![]() Weight discrepancies ranged from less than one pound to about two pounds and the average weight discrepancy was. Specifically, of 265 evidence bags we reviewed, the weight of the drugs in five bags did not match the weights in the tracking system. Inspection Service personnel did not always ensure proper documentation of evidence bags at the and ANP locations we visited.The Postal Inspection Service spent about $253,613 annually on unsupported workhours. As a result, 2,228 workhours were unsupported in FY 2019. ![]() Complete and accurate recording and documenting of workhour information is needed for management to assess the productivity of individual inspectors and the ANP program. This occurred because the ANP policy is not aligned with the Inspection Service Manual, which requires documentation of daily activities to support workhours. Eighteen of 30 (60 percent) postal inspectors we interviewed did not properly document ANP program activities to support workhours.When personnel are not adhering to Registered Mail requirements, it could contribute to the loss or theft of packages suspected of containing illicit drugs. Postal Service Registered Mail policy requires hand-to-hand exchange of Registered Mail. Although there are security cameras by the container to deter and detect theft, they do not. This container is near the workroom floor of the mail delivery unit and is accessible to all Postal Service and Inspection Service employees. Personnel at the allowed Postal Service employees to drop off Registered Mail suspected of containing illicit drugs in an accessible container identified for use.In addition, when suspect packages which contain legitimate mailable items are sent to the and are lost, this could impact the Postal Service’s brand reputation. When packages suspected of containing illicit drugs are lost or stolen, there is an increased risk that those drugs could be illegally distributed or used. display ” on the mailing label address, both of which increase the risk of theft by postal employees processing this mail. In addition, packages containing marijuana emit a strong odor and can be easily detected. This occurred because policy recommends, but does not require, postal inspectors to use a more controlled mailing method. Based on available tracking data for 191 of them, postal inspectors did not use suggested mailing methods for 188 packages. 219 of 15,941 packages sent to the were lost.Since the ANP program restricts postal inspectors from using the contents of abandoned illicit drugs as evidence, it may limit opportunities for criminal prosecutions. Specifically, 1,839 of 95,491 pounds (2 percent) of narcotics seized were identified as illicit drugs other than marijuana. The ANP program was established to remove marijuana from the mailstream however, other types of illicit drugs have been found during the abandoned process.Opportunities exist for the Postal Inspection Service to enhance management of the ANP program. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, the Postal Inspection Service processed 54,877 packages suspected of containing marijuana at both the and ANP sites. During July 2018, the Postal Inspection Service established the to serve as a central processing location for the mailing of suspected marijuana packages from areas without an ANP site. The Postal Inspection Service had ANP sites to process suspected packages from the western U.S. This program was established primarily to remove marijuana from the mailstream. Due to this process, the Postal Inspection Service has determined that abandoned packages are not used as evidence in criminal investigations however, information about the packages, such as an address, may be used to support new or ongoing criminal investigations. When identified as non-mailable items, their contents are seized and disposed and mailable items are returned to the original addressees. If there is no response after 21 days, packages are declared abandoned and can be opened. Rather, they request consent from mailers or addressees to open detained packages. Unlike in criminal investigations, the ANP program does not require postal inspectors to obtain search warrants to open detained packages. In 2016, the Postal Inspection Service implemented the ANP program, which is an administrative procedure used to detain, document, and process mail packages that are reasonably suspected of containing marijuana from the mailstream. Postal inspectors are federal law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use. Postal Inspection Service has efficient and effective controls to manage the Administrative Non-Mailability Protocol (ANP) program. Our objective was to determine whether the U.S.
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