Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1985
Loc: Texas
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04/08/2003 - Updated 10:20 PM ET
Illegal mailed drugs seized
By Julie Appleby, USA TODAY
Shipments of prescription drugs into the United States from all over the world amount to about 10 million packages a year, according to a recent FDA estimate. But even the FDA admits its numbers are just a guess. The total could be far higher.
So many medications are pouring into the USA from overseas, they say, that it's overwhelming some mail facilities, stretching inspectors whose main focus since Sept. 11 has been anti-terrorism.
Shipments arriving daily at the mail facilities are not just orders by senior citizens struggling to buy heart medication. Many packages contain banned or restricted drugs. Some contain antibiotics, which when taken indiscriminately can fuel antibiotic resistance.
A day's haul at the Dulles international mail facility outside Washington, D.C., last week netted about 20 packages containing drugs, including Valium-like products, which are restricted because they are addictive, painkiller Phenobarbital, also restricted, and kits for growing marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Some packages of pills are sent through if they're in small amounts and don't appear to be banned or restricted substances.
Packages containing restricted drugs are seized, requiring paperwork by Customs and FDA agents. A letter is sent to the addressee. Few try to pick up the packages, says Hal Zager, chief inspector for the Customs and Border Protection unit at Dulles.
Inspectors find the packages as they look for other contraband, using radiation detectors and X-ray machines. Unclaimed packages are eventually destroyed. The Dulles mail facility one of 14 nationwide that inspect international mail burns about 200 to 300 drug-containing packages a month, Zager says.
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dar
Journeyman
Reged: 08/23/02
Posts: 77
Loc: U.S.A
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Yeah they burn them after confiscating the drugs themselves most likely! Sorry for my cynisism, but when the insurance companies rape you and the Dr.'s mis or under diagnose you then we are left to take matter into our own hands!
Too bad that the focus is not where it should be, maybe if we all pool our money and lobby Washington like the big pharmicutical companies then we would have more of a say. 
Sorry for the soap box, I guess maybe I need some of those addicting "valium-like" meds
Dar
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"Better living through chemistry [sometimes]"
Edited by dar (04/14/03 10:13 PM)
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/05/03
Posts: 1324
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Um yeah it's kinda hard to believe a lot of that isn't diverted to personal use by the guys with the bonfire.
Interestinly though this story just sounds like an observation, and not an alarm sounding. I mean nothing in what I read makes me think they are looking any harder for meds than before. If more is getting seized I think we all know by now that packages in general are under a lot more scrutiny......
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dar
Journeyman
Reged: 08/23/02
Posts: 77
Loc: U.S.A
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Believe me the companies who profit from the drug sales here in the U.S. will put 2+2 together [more like 2billion +2billion together] they will see this as an worrisome trend and lobby good and hard to prevent any money from being diverted to away from their pocketbooks.
Let's face it folks in the big picture their are alot of Dr.s & Pharmacuetical co. in bed together and you can bet that they are using all the "Viagra" samples" they can get. And if their not using the samples then they are sending them to people in Washington .
Just an observation, [don't be too hard on me since I haven't had my morning tea.
Dar
P.S. Thanks Kathy for the info, you effort is much appreciated 
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"Better living through chemistry [sometimes]"
Edited by dar (04/15/03 11:07 AM)
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CHEESE
Veteran
Reged: 01/02/02
Posts: 571
Loc: U.S.A.
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HEART BURN is MORE LIKE IT! (I HAD A FEW SEIZED,SOMETIMES NO LETTER!) I BELIEVE ALOT OF OUR SEIZED MEDS. GO BACK INTO SOMEONES PERSONAL USE? (THAT'S WHY ALL THOSE CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE MEXICO BORDER ARE SO RELAXED , MY MEDS!)GOOD LUCK, CHEESE 
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ewebp
Veteran
Reged: 12/13/01
Posts: 604
Loc: midwest
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Could you imagine if one of us got a job with customs? I could spot everyone of those packages.
My "love letter" would say, "Thanks for the meds. I only took what I needed and you can have the rest." lol
-EW
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jadi
Old Hand
Reged: 11/02/02
Posts: 487
Loc: USA
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LOL Cheese! - Those guys are awefully relaxed, huh?! I totally agree with your theory  !
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(alias: MELLO)
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jadi
Old Hand
Reged: 11/02/02
Posts: 487
Loc: USA
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You guys are too much today...definitely cheering me up !
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(alias: MELLO)
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sevenup
Stranger
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 5
Loc: Midwest - MO
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Anyone know where I can send my employment application?
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Billyl
Board Addict
Reged: 06/15/02
Posts: 389
Loc: NorthEast
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Part of the employment package requires a drug test. Customs officers are also subject to random drug tests.
Take care. Billylll
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sly176541
Newbie
Reged: 01/23/03
Posts: 39
Loc: Central Illinois
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Just tell them I don't require money as pay, I just enjoy the exp. And of course on the side be cleaning up on packages.
OHH, and of course being a DB patron, would definitely let everyone know whats up so I can keep my eyes out for your stuff as well.
NICE DREAM HUH
Sly
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/05/03
Posts: 1324
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Quote:
Could you imagine if one of us got a job with customs? I could spot everyone of those packages.
-EW
You're right ewebp, I can even spot when my neighbors are getting meds by mail, it's hard to mistake those padded envelopes for anything else. The miracle is that customs hasn't learned how to spot them without scanners and x rays and sniffer dogs.
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Caveman6666
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 218
Loc: Earth
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Quote:
Quote:
Could you imagine if one of us got a job with customs? I could spot everyone of those packages.
-EW
Due to the huge volume coming through, they can't check every envelope.
You're right ewebp, I can even spot when my neighbors are getting meds by mail, it's hard to mistake those padded envelopes for anything else. The miracle is that customs hasn't learned how to spot them without scanners and x rays and sniffer dogs.
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resxuz5378
Newbie
Reged: 05/27/02
Posts: 42
Loc: USA
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If you want an application to work for US customs they have an offical website> I think that it is Us customs dot com or something like that. They have a link called "career oportunities". Something like that. ANyways good luck! 
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Exterminate All Rational Thought: William S. Burroughs
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needinfo
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 261
Loc: South East USA
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Anyone wanting to apply for Customs (or any other government job) should check out:
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/
That is the official site of the Office of Personnel Management which does all hiring for the Feds. Customs used to be the Department of Treasury; a bunch of stuff is now clumped together in the Department of Homeland Security.
Just pondering here, though, urine test, hair test, ???
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The older I get the more I NEEDINFO.
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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LOL...I wouldn't link to that site from here for employment purposes. They probably note where you came from... browser info.
I might be wrong...
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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OH NO...I just started work for customs. I wanted to do my part in fighting the importation of drugs. I was not told I had to burn these dumb packages. Hmmm, guess I will burn those I find from this point forward...
RIGHT
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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novashok88
Banned
Reged: 12/18/01
Posts: 301
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Quote:
LOL...I wouldn't link to that site from here for employment purposes. They probably note where you came from... browser info.
I might be wrong...
Unfortunately, you're not wrong at all. A good, semi-related example is the recent "online headshop" busts that i've been reading about. If you go to one of the sites that was shut down, (i've not!) you're supposedly redirected to a DEA website that scolds you for trying to visit that site, and then they say (not in these exact words, of course) that your IP address is recorded for any future use if they feel the need. That bugs the you-know-what out of me. And not counting that kind of thing, pretty much any website can and often does know which site you just came from. Everywhere you go on the net you leave an IP trail... if you're curious as to what info you're broadcasting, check out Symantic Security Check or Shields Up for a quick and free test. I don't work for either of those places, i've just found them and bookmarked them. Personally, my computer is locked down tighter than a snare-drum because you never know who is watching... I like my privacy.
NS88
Edited by novashok88 (04/19/03 09:18 PM)
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toky20
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/17/02
Posts: 1347
Loc: Windy Place
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Quote:
if you're curious as to what info you're broadcasting, check out Symantic Security Check or Shields Up for a quick and free test.
LOL, so what's the first thing I do? of course! I clicked the security link from the drug board... LOL.... gotta love it.
Thanks for the info guys,
Toky
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 955
Loc: USA
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I feel much safer D since you are now working for customs. I know you will win that war on drugs after all.
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"Every day is a new day I am thankful for every breath I take, I won't take it for granted so I learn from my mistakes. So I trust in love, it gives me peace of mind." POD
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novashok88
Banned
Reged: 12/18/01
Posts: 301
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I feel pretty secure... I quote, from Shield's Up:
"All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet. Gotta love unix....
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tem33
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 234
Loc: Southern USA
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AAARGGGHHHHH! Barbiturates are NOT painkillers, they actually decrease the pain threshold and increase the intensity if administered alone. Butalbutal is in esgic, fioricet, etc because it causes relaxation (neck and cranial muscles) and Not pain releif per say!!
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