Posted by Trek Armice on February 24, 1997 at 12:44:42:
In Reply to: Re: ***IMPORTANT WARNING re Foreign Mail Order** posted by Hulkster on February 23, 1997 at 13:06:23:
There seems to be alot attention focused here on Foreign Mail Order, U.S. Mail system etc. Here are some facts that may help you
make some intelligent deceisions. This by the way is public info (at least now it is)...
- 43% of the worlds mail goes through the U.S. postal service. (second is Japan with 6%).
- The U.S. Mail processes more mail in one week than FedEx and UPS combined for a year.
- The U.S. Mail process 603 Million pieces of mail a day.
- In FY96 only 2102 pieces of mail were tested and siezed by the Federal investagators for controlled substances (NOTE: This
is REGULAR U.S. mail that was sent person to person, NOT from a pharmacy that is often seized because the pharmcy
is on an alert list.
Lastly...
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.
Best Regards,
Trek