Regarding USPS Tracking Info, X-Rays, and Controlled Deliveries
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Many have people navigating the intricacies of the USPS and how and what to do when their package gets lost or potentially seized. This article is meant to be a guide to how to navigate that system, what happens when you suspect you might be on their radar, and how the whole system ties in together. It is, unfortunately, not a guide to how to clean house or what you should do if you're sure a seizure on your way or viewers outside of the USA.
The USPS tracking system is very flawed and slow. It will often give wrong information, so don't fret if you see a weird error message. I've been told this by a guy that has been selling on eBay for years, USPS tracking info is just shit. The Parcel Apps site has much more information usually: https://parcelsapp.com/en/
If your package get seized, you may see the following info for the tracking number:
"The origin system will post "passed on for int delivery.". For items sent on to LE tacking stops at ISC (internal service center) the first or second stop after entering the country. "Items that are seized leave the postal system and disappear from tracking at that point" from /u/plkqcs on Dread. Here's an example of what it will say if it's seized by US Customs:
"Your item is currently with Customs in the destination country.. Your item has been presented to Customs on XX-XX-XXXX [date] for assessment. More information will be available once the assessment is complete
ISC MIAMI FL (USPS), United States of America". This was the message from a seized package from the UK to the US.
Main Contacts for the USPS
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Obviously, you will have to use proper OpSec when contacting the USPS. If you're contacting them online, you'll want to use Tor (probably with JS on) or a VPN. I recommend WindScribe VPN. They give you 10GB for free per month: https://tinyurl.com/WindScribe321. If you're going to call them, I would create a fresh Google account and make a new Google voice number to call them from.
You can call the main USPS customer service hotline at 1 (800) 275-8777
They can be contacted via Twitter @USPSHelp https://twitter.com/USPSHelp
You can also contact the USPS by email at: https://emailus.usps.com/s/
You can file a complaint against the USPS at the USPS Inspector General's Office: https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint (obviously you probably don't want to go this route, as it will bring more attention to your package - but you can also complain about your PO being slow or other things)
If your package is just missing, you can fill out a form on the USPS website to have them search for it, but it rarely works:
https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm
You can also call them at 972-393-6755 and speak with a customer service rep and ask them about your mail. I've filled out the form on every package I've ever lost - legal or not and you can call the number and they will look into it for you. You can also look up the number for your local PO Office in your zip code and see if they have it misplaced: https://tools.usps.com/find-location.htm
You can also request information about your missing mail from the US Postmaster General's website via email here: https://usps.force.com/emailus/s/
Missing International Mail: What are ISC centers, what are they used for and how can I contact them?
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"International Service Centers (ISCs) distribute and dispatch international mail received from a designated service area to specific foreign countries or to gateway exchange offices. The five ISCs are located in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Each center has been recognized for global leadership in international mail processing with an International Post Corporation (IPC) Certificate of Excellence award. This award, based on a common global standard for excellence in mail processing, is a months-long process involving an operational survey, pre-certification, and the actual certification process.
The IPC is an association of 24 postal operators in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. IPC provides its members with systems and programs that ensure efficient and competitive delivery of international mail."
So, this is ONLY FOR INTERNATIONAL MAIL - domestic mail does not go through these ISC centers.
Contacting a ISC
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This part, unfortunately must be done by phone, so just make a fresh Google account and make yourself a new Google Voice number and use that to call, or you can alternately use the app Spoofcard www.spoofcard.com , which will spoof your caller ID to whatever you want it to be (note: costs money)
Source: https://about.usps.com/strategic-planning/cs09/CSPO_09_046.htm
If you find a number that's bad, please let me know via email at usps.starscream66@disposableaddress.com - thanks!
New York ISC
You should try calling a supervisor there directly. ISC USPS (New York): 718-553-7271 ; 718-553-9175 ; 718-553-9171 ; 718-553-7392 ; 877-277-5511 ; 718-222-1811
Miami ISC
(305) 718-7500
(305) 718-7475
305.718.7505
Los Angeles ISC
(310) 337-8700
310-337-8763
Los Angeles International Service Center Branch President
Greg Harris
310.337.8789
San Francisco
(628) 652-4700
(800) 541-2266
(415) 822-7157
[PLEASE NOTE: These numbers were found by searching the web for their numbers and I did not call to check to see if they are all working, so some of them may be bad or no longer in service.]
Here is an explanation of what happens at the NYC ISC and how they operate. Unfortunately, the link they provide at the bottom to contact them is broken. ISC New York NY(USPS) Processed Through Facility ISC Detailed: https://geniuzmedia.com/isc-new-york-ny-usps-processed-through-facility-isc-detailed/
It's extremely rare for a domestic package to get seized, but most likely if that happens you're going to get a knock on the door, not a love letter. It can also depend on how much you've had shipped to you. If it's a lot they can consider it as intent to distribute, it all depends on the substance you've ordered and how much you ordered.
Be prepared to know how to talk to the police. Watch this video from Flex Your Rights on YouTube called "10 Rules for Dealing with the Police" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4nQ_mFJV4I
Flex Your Rights Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvkgo3Q_xBSNw5InIvVQo9g
Don't sign for anything and tell them you didn't order anything. Don't let them inside your house without a warrant. Tell them you're exerting your 5th amendment right to stay silent (You have to be sure and say this, as it is found in case law). Start with your phone recording immediately when they ring the doorbell/knock on your door. Don't avoid it and not answer it because then they'll come back with a warrant for sure. Don't let them try and stick the box into your door or anything, put it back outside in your mailbox and write "RETURN TO SENDER" on it with a sharpie (optional). Or buy a stamp that says "RETURN TO SENDER - NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" stamp, like this one: https://amzn.to/3HBelw6
However, as you read below in my section on controlled deliveries, you will find out this isn't a 100% full proof method.
Download the ACLU Bust Card and write down important names and phone numbers on it. Look up your local bar association or state's lawyer search or just search Google for criminal drug offense attorneys in your area, try and find one that answers 24/7 and ask them if they take cases pro bono (most likely they won't). It'll cost you a heap of money, but it's worth it to stay out of prison.
https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bustcard_eng_20100630.pdf (PDF)
On the back of this card, write contact information such as people who could bail you out, bailbondsmen, or search for local criminal or drug defense lawyers in your area and either retain one if you think you're about to get in trouble or write one of their numbers on the back of their card if you get arrested. If you can find one in your area that has a 24/7 answering service, that is ideal. You can just search Startpage.com or check your local bar association, as well as searching Google for "drug defense attorneys" you can't do this on other private search engines, unfortunately, as they will not identify your identity or location. So, you could search for this in an inprivate/incognito window so you at least wouldn't be logged into your Google account when you're searching.
Postal X-Rays
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Will your package be x-rayed? From the USPS site:
"Is Mail X-Rayed?
Some of the mail that is sent through the United States Postal Service will pass through an X-Ray machine. There are no specific guidelines as to what may or may not be x-rayed, though mail sent to or through larger cities is likely to pass through an X-Ray machine.
If you have additional questions about X-Raying of items, contact your local Post Office.
Note: Marking a mailpiece "Do Not X-Ray" will not forgo the X-Raying of a mailpiece, and may result in the item being considered suspicious."
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Mail-Security
Learn about Controlled Deliveries
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*** REQUIRED READING ***
These guides were written by a lawyer friend of mine who serves as council for individuals who have been caught with or accused of dealing steroids who gave me his permission to republish these excellent articles.
Busted: Legal Q & A: BEATING A CASE BY REFUSING A PACKAGE by Rick Collins, Esq. - https://bitbin.it/zXmTf7JP/
Privacy and Your Postal Packages (Doc File) by Rick Collins, Esq. - https://bitbin.it/wZgmJCot/
Controller Deliveries taken from Legal Muscle, Anabolics in America by Rick Collins https://amzn.to/3xbCt3r. Article: https://bitbin.it/9GPuG3DJ/ (Note: Article might be slightly outdated as it was written in the year 2000).
A controlled delivery happens when you receive a package and they will ask you to sign for it. You can refuse to sign it and tell them you didn't order anything. This *might* work, but it's not guaranteed. They can also imbed a tracking device inside the package and bust you when you open the pack. The above two articles explain it MUCH MORE THOROUGHLY and explain you can get arrested without a controlled delivery. The only thing is to absolutely refuse the package.
If you are concerned your package has been intercepted and decide you want to hire a lawyer, visit https://www.ftc.gov/hiring-lawyer to learn how to hire a proper lawyer.
Why the USPS is so Slow and Shitty Right now (added 11/15/21)
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The current Post Master General, Louis DeJoy, who donated over $700,000 to the Trump campaign was then suddenly appointed by Trump in an attempt to shut down and slow down the USPS to prevent mail in ballots because he knew he was losing and was trying every trick in the book to crookedly steal the election.
OpenSecrets - Louis DeJoy: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/08/gop-donations-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy/
So, DeJoy ended up stopping a ton of automatic mail processing machines and just shut them down & took them offline and as far as I'm aware, they still might not be turned back on.
Sorting Equipment Removed, Postal Police Duties Scaled Back: Here Are All The Postal Service Changes Raising Alarm (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/08/17/sorting-equipment-removed-changes-to-election-mail-all-the-postal-service-usps-changes-raising-alarm-louis-dejoy/?sh=7347a71f106f
USPS chief Louis Dejoy says there’s ‘no intention to’ bring back removed mail-sorting machines: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/21/usps-chief-dejoy-no-intention-to-bring-back-removed-mail-sorting-machines.html
He also owns stock in USPS competitors like DHL, UPS, FedEx and other smaller regional postal services internationally. So, his allegiance isn't to the benefit of the USPS, his primary benefit is greed, so he'll do more and more to hinder the USPS like we saw with the October slow down even more. He wants the privatized mail carriers to succeed and the USPS to fail so he can increase his income.
Amid political controversy, postmaster general's stock holdings come under renewed scrutiny: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/amid-political-controversy-postmaster-generals-stock-holdings-renewed/story?id=72374726
Trump ally takes over crisis-ridden Postal Service as top Senate Democrat demands inquiry on hiring:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/15/trump-postal-service-dejoy/
The FBI is even investigating the guy for campaign finance fraud.
FBI Investigates Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Over Campaign Fundraising: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/04/1003172114/fbi-investigates-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-over-campaign-fundraising
And Biden can't just fire the guy because that's not how the USPS works, since it's technically privatized with government funds (that doesn't make a profit).
We’ll Be Stuck With Trump’s Postmaster General for a While:
https://slate.com/business/2020/12/louis-dejoy-postmaster-general-biden-postal-service.html
So, that's why there's also this bullshit going on with the USPS out of the blue. Not to mention, the USPS cut hours of employees, closed locations earlier, and much more:
USPS changes include longer delivery times for 1st-class mail, cuts to post office hours: https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/usps-changes-include-longer-delivery-times-for-1st-class-mail-cuts-to-post-office-hours/article_0b220302-2236-11ec-b766-fb66260ad2d6.html
Oh, and to mention, there is an USPS facility where packages and other mail is just disappearing into a void into:
This NJ post office is a ‘black hole’ for lost packages nationwide: https://nypost.com/2021/10/14/this-nj-post-office-is-a-black-hole-for-lost-packages-nationwide/
However, it the USPS has unveiled around 138 new sorting machines (around the country?!) and give you a visual tour and detailed explanation of how they work, which is interesting for two reasons. 1) We can see how our mail is sorted and develop better OpSec and 2) Determine if these new sorting machines around to go be placed around the country and especially in understanding international postal sorting better:
A tour of the new USPS package sorting machine: https://www.savethepostoffice.com/a-tour-of-the-new-usps-package-sorting-machine/
The US postmaster appointed under Trump is still raising alarm – but can he be stopped? (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/16/louis-dejoy-us-postal-service-postmaster-general-biden
The only people who can remove DeJoy are the USPS Board of Governors. I suggest you email them:
Contact: Michael J. Elston, Secretary of the Board of Governors, michael.j.elston@usps.gov, 202-268-4800.
More Information about USPS Practices & How to Get your FOIA File From Them
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These are some articles from a few years back regarding the USPS and tracking of mail. I once got a knock on the door from a US Postal Inspector and had to explain to him why I was receiving shipments of oxycodone.
Having said that, the USPSI is a scary entity and you may want to request your own personal file from the USPS or US Postal Inspectors to see if you're on their radar. You can do this with a FOIA request. But I feel like it's kind of poking the hornets net to make them look harder for you, but I've been told from multiple sources that the FOIA offices are completely separate from the law enforcement division and you should have nothing to worry about.
You can make a FOIA request from the USPS at https://anonym.to/?https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/ (anonymized link). However, this isn't going to tell you much. It's the postal inspectors you really have to worry about. You can request a FOIA from the Postal inspectors at this link. https://anonym.to/?https://www.uspis.gov/terms-of-service#freedom-of-information-act (anonymized link). Don't be afraid to do this. In order to get a FOIA from the postal inspectors you have to submit your information, and then they will send you something you have to get notarized within 15 days and send it back to them. They will then send you your file. You can do these FOIA requests on MuckRock, which automates and does the FOIA for you, but they become public if you use it.
You can see sample FOIA letters at https://www.nfoic.org/sample-foia-request-letters/ & http://www.getmyfbifile.com/
The USPS uses something called "mail covers" to mark your box as one to be watched.
* U.S. Postal Service Logging All Mail for Law Enforcement
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/monitoring-of-snail-mail.html - Onion link: https://www.nytimesn7cgmftshazwhfgzm37qxb44r64ytbb2dj3x62d2lljsciiyd.onion/2013/07/04/us/monitoring-of-snail-mail.html
The other thing is that they almost never refuse a search warrant request for mail. Just do a google search for "controlled delivery" and you'll see how they do that. Sometimes they'll come to your door and ask you to sign for it. If you ordered something and the vendor didn't require a signature tell them you didn't order anything and refuse to sign for it. As all mentioned above. This is depending on the amount you get and if it's considered enough where you're considered to be selling the drugs aka intent to distribute.
* Postal Service almost never denies mail-surveillance requests
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2014/11/20/postal-service-almost-never-denies-mail-surveillance-requests/
Finally, I wanted to share this YouTube video about how they scan for customs at the JFK mail center, which is where almost all international shipments go to nowadays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoY7SxrzNTc
How Customs At JFK Searches 1 Million Mail Packages A Day
The video is well worth a watch and very informative.
There are a couple things you can do if you think your address is compromised. You can buy a DBA (doing business as) certificate from your Secretary of State and create a company name. The DBA will still be under your name, but it's cheap and it hides the package ID from scanners. Then open a PO box or a box at a UPS store or mom and pop store and use that as a cover. Some people have questioned my advice about opening a DBA, so this is up to you. The USPS can't just look up a DBA, they have to contact the Secretary of State to look it up and see your real address, but if that's happened then the Postal Inspectors have gotten involved so you're already in trouble.
https://anonym.to/?https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-your-business-name (Anonymized Link)
You can visit JJ Luna, author of "How To Be Invisible" and he sells ghost LLCs and ghost mailing addresses. You can't have anything delivered to the address, but you can use it to register the LLC and then they will have a very hard time tracking you down.
https://jjluna.com/
How To Be Invisible (3rd Edition): https://amzn.to/3hN9E8e
You can also buy a quality fake ID and open PO boxes/UPS/mom and pop boxes and use that as your receiving address. This works well, but you need to close them eventually and move on to another ID and address. Reddit has a great Fake ID Market: https://www.reddit.com/r/PhakeIDs/new/
I hope this information helps you, but don't be scared away. The USPS receives millions of packages and letters a day and probably 90% slip through with no problem.
Hope that helps!
-SS
