Anyone have this happen?

[Bad Ninja]

Wait, what?


Lol.



Not really. The key words are "unlawfully", "improperly", and "without authority". If they have their legal bases covered, they can (almost) do what they want during the course of an investigation.

Yes really.

US mail is protected and seriously enforced.

LEOs know better and don't dare touch mail without a court order. That's the only "legal base" they can cover.

A cop playing word games would get anything discovered thrown out of court, and depending on the judge could get themselves jail time.

Federal law is no joke when it comes to USMail.

 

[K_Tech]

Yes really.

US mail is protected and seriously enforced.

LEOs know better and don't dare touch mail without a court order. That's the only "legal base" they can cover.

A cop playing word games would get anything discovered thrown out of court, and depending on the judge could get themselves jail time.

Federal law is no joke when it comes to USMail.

I agree with what you are saying, but a postal inspector with a federal warrant can open first class mail and parcels, and other classes of mail can be opened with only probable cause.

#4 on the list here:

United States Postal Inspection Service

 

[Bad Ninja]

I agree with what you are saying, but a postal inspector with a federal warrant can open first class mail and parcels, and other classes of mail can be opened with only probable cause.

#4 on the list here:

United States Postal Inspection Service

Ya that's exactly what I said in the post you quoted.
But that didnt happen either.

Re read the OP, then re read my post.

It didn't happen, or at least not as the OP stated.

When they get a warrant and open mail, it better contain the exact contraband listed in the warrant.


They would then show said warrant, detain the suspect, and then question them, not a "knock and talk" after the fact.

 

[philoshop]

Without knowing the details of the investigation it's all conjecture here.
Innocent until proven guilty is still generally the principle of law.

The complaint could have come from a disgruntled employee or customer, a competitor, or even a local politician or bureaucrat with an axe to grind. It's happened before, and innocent businesses have folded because of the fallout. Politics is an ugly business.
Thanks for not posting the name. Best not to feed the beast.

Sorry to hear that you were hassled, though. Sounds like you handled it well.

 

[papergoblin]

Actually if the USPS has reason to believe, they can open mail. Local, FBI, etc need a warrant. Postal inspectors do not need a warrant, neither do customs. I've had packages opened, inspected, and resealed.

They will notify you it was opened and resealed when you get it, stickers all over it. If something was removed they will notify you before you get the package.

Now whether this happened as stated or for the reasons stated who knows, have no reason to call the op a liar. I do question where the op was having it shipped since I keep seeing SO. Things get wonky when you have things shipped through APO, on base, etc.

 

[Big Me]

Doesn't SO also mean Significant Other nowadays?

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

I did forget to mention that when he showed me the first package he said "this package was already opened". He did not say he opened it just that it had been opened.

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

SO to me means significant other, sorry for the confusion

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

It does not matter whether anyone believes me, this happened. If I were arrested or held for something, or was not given the mechs I ordered, I would have spoken up to the proper authorities. Again, I was not worried about getting into trouble because I knew I did nothing wrong. I just thought others would want a heads up about something I never thought about. Here is a pic of those mechs:

 

[ImThatGuy]

Know your rights.

First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

That's probably why they were hesitant to open the 2nd package because they knew they f'd up on that first one. LOL

 

[philoshop]

Sounds like you're off the radar. That's good.
I'd like to know from whence the motivation for this arose. Further information would be appreciated.

Scare tactics, ie terrorism, is no longer beyond boundaries for even seemingly benevolent governments.

 

[KentA]

Doesn't SO also mean Significant Other nowadays?

Big Brother is now a Significant Other

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

Ok, so I am at work and I get a frantic call from my SO. She is distraught saying some undercover cops came to the house and wanted to question me about some purchases I made online. She tells them I am at work and they will find me there. I thanked her for the heads up and hung up the phone, dumbfounded. First off, I dont do drugs or illegal activities and second off, if I did, I surely wouldn't go online to do so. So, not wanting to create a scene at my office, I go down to the entrance of our building not knowing what to expect. 10 mins later two official looking SUVs and a truck with some big dudes come rolling into the parking lot. One pulls into a space beside me one rolls up to me and asks my name and the other just sits there. I felt surrounded but was not worried as I knew there had to be a mistake. They all exit their vehicles and come up to me. The first gentleman tells me he is the USPS mail inspector and offers his hand. I shake it and shakily ask what was going on. He has two of my vapemail packages in his hands, one is already opened. He tells me the company I ordered from out of Texas is being investigated by the police they were here to find out if my packages contained illegal substances. The opened package was my authentic 26650 Fat Snow Wolf I got for a great deal. He pulled it out and opened it up and asked me how it worked. I went through the positive and negative contacts, how the battery goes in, how the atty attaches and what happens when you press the switch. I assured them I only use liquid nicotine in my atties and tanks and that I do not use ......... in them. He was satisfied with my knowledge of the device and asked me if he could open the second package. I said please do. As he opened it, I told him it should be the Chi You Mech clone I ordered. Indeed it was and, again he opened it and inspected it to make sure it didn't have anything illegal in it. They told me about the investigation into the company I had ordered from and said they were satisfied knowing I had not ordered anything illegal. The guys were really cool after that and I told them how good vaping has been for me to get off cigs. I also said I would never be ordering from that company again. I knew there was nothing wrong but god I was freaked out for a moment there. Anyone had a similar experience? Also, not sure if it is right for me to out the company I ordered from but if you guys want to know I can share...

I have a question for anyone reading this thread: The company I ordered these mechs from sent me an e-mail requesting product reviews. I see two options:

A. Write a review mentioning the frightful episode with the "Postal Inspectors" along with a positive note on the fast shipping, low priced, quality merchandise and good customer service.

OR

B. Send a note to the company about my experience with the delivery and post the above mentioned positive review.

What do y'all think?

 

[bsidb]

I think B

 

[papergoblin]

A lot of rules about mail have changed since they instituted the Patriot Act. Honestly there's no telling what's really going with the company the stuff was bought from.

I'd probably just avoid that business from now on.

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

I think B

What I was leaning towards, thanks.

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

A lot of rules about mail have changed since they instituted the Patriot Act. Honestly there's no telling what's really going with the company the stuff was bought from.

I'd probably just avoid that business from now on.

Definitely will NOT be ordering from them again. Not sure my heart can take another incident like that

 

[papergoblin]

Definitely will NOT be ordering from them again. Not sure my heart can take another incident like that

Don't blame you one bit on that one, I'd have went and got a cigarette after that.

 

[beckdg]

This will become more common.

The parallels between the 2 are too vast. Nearly identical.

Good thing it went this way. Much better than repeated court proceedings.

Only thing the post office can tell by your package contents is your device will vaporizer a substance.

Good investigation. Minimal effort and intrusion and informative.

I wouldn't be surprised if reporting ecig retailers as "other stuff" suppliers until something sticks was a new ANTZ tactic.

Tapatyped

 

[beckdg]

I truly do not want to buy vape related stuff that can also be "tied in" with other purposes.

Only one choice then.

Quit vaping.

The gear is identical.

Tapatyped