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All 19 posts Subject: Drug Courier Indicators Please login to post Down

Jade
(soccer mom)
09-13-04 20:16
No 531172
User Picture       Drug Courier Indicators

A Cop's View on "Drug Courier Profiling"

DRUG COURIER PROFILE INDICATORS

In recent years, the term "Drug Courier Profile" has been used to describe those involved in the transportation of drugs. As this is accepted terminology in general conversation, it can create legal problems if used in conjunction with a vehicle stop.

Stopping someone because they fit a "Drug Courier Profile" has been referred to as a "reasonable suspicion" or pretext stop. In recent court cases, the courts have had mixed opinions on the legality of detaining someone based on nothing but reasonable suspicion. For this reason, we will not stop someone solely on suspicion that she/he fits a drug courier profile.

Once a vehicle has been stopped for a violation, or within the scope of our duties, the officer should then look for indicators leading him to believe that the person is involved in drug trafficking.

Indicators can be broken down into three categories;

1. Exterior of the vehicle and driving habits.

2. Interior of the vehicle.

3. The driver and/or passengers.

The following is a list of indicators that have been present during numerous seizures by various law enforcement agencies. As additional indicators are discovered, they will be provided to you.

Exterior Indicators to look for:

1. Large or late model cars with large trunks - GM most popular.

a. Intermediate size also used.

b. Occasionally a smaller car will be involved.

2. Older car in top running condition.

3. Vans and pickup trucks with camper tops also commonly used.

4. Tinted or blacked out windows.

5. Numerous radio antennas.

a. CB radios

b. Police scanners.

6. Radar Detectors

7. Vehicles equipped with air shocks that normally wouldn't have them.

8. Two or more vehicles running in tandem

9. Pulling speed boats with cover

10. Vehicle Registration:

a. Common tags seen are Florida, Texas, Maryland, New York and New Jersey

b. Florida "Z" for all rental and leased cars

1) Tags expiring in 1986 (green on white) first alpha character is "Z" for all rental and leased cars

2) After running out, some "Y" plates were issue Ex. ZBC123 or YBC123 or 123ZBC or 123YBC

3) All new plates will be ZBC-12A or YBC-12A

c. New York has same system with 3 alpha followed by 3 or 4 numeric

1) New York has some irregularities as car can be registered in name of leased.

2) Title check needed to confirm

d. Dale County plates seen regularly with cocaine seizures

- Broward County plates seen regularly in marijuana seizures

e. North Carolina starts with "R" for rental vehicles

11. Stickers or decals indicating where the car is from or has been - do they match state of registration?

12. Driving habits often result in the courier being stopped for a routine violation

a. Speeding up and slowing down

b. Scrupulous obedience to traffic laws - overly cautious

c. Erratic driving due to drug or alcohol use

d. Many drive straight through and take drugs to stay awake

e. Take a long time to pull over

13. In order to avoid leaving the vehicle they will often sleep in a rest area

Interior Indicators to look for:

1. Fuzz busters, scanners, and radios if not visible from exterior

2. Road maps or atlas

a. Check for marked route of travel

3. Newspapers indicating where she/he has been

4. Tissues - boxed, or signs or exceptional use

5. Duct Tape - (very common) - Fiberglass material

a. White and gray most common found

6. One or two screwdrivers or isolated wrench laying on floor or in glove box

7. Aerosol cans

a. Check for reverse threading

8. Thermos bottles - can indicate travel as well as be concealed compartment

9. Obvious odor of perfume, deodorizer, or talcum powder

a. Odor of ether or cedar shavings

10. Strong odor of fresh ground coffee

11. Odor of burnt or raw marijuana

12. Roaches in ashtray or residue on roach clips

13. Spare tire in back seat

14. Little or no luggage

a. Hard, air tight such as Samsonite

15. Signs of extensive travel such as carton of cigarettes or other items from out of the area

a. Fast food bags

b. Tax stamp on cigarettes

c. Motel, gas receipts

16. High mileage on new car

17. Service stickers

18. Papers with flight numbers, boat names, bus routes, etc.

19. Address books or phone number lists

20. Business cards

21. Fireworks or souvenirs

22. Citrus fruit

23. One key in ignition or trunk key missing from key ring

24. Pagers in vehicle or on driver

25. Concealed switches to activate compartments

a. Starting to use two screws that will activate by shorting out.

Signs of concealed compartments

a. Back of back seat or seat itself ajar

b. Loose or missing screws in side panels - door panels

1) Loose screws on floor

2) Rivets replacing screws

c. Door jam vent blocked out with tin behind it

d. Trunk area

1) False area between trunk and rear seat very common

2) False floor in trunk or sides of trunk - access may be from under carriage

3) At times requires depth perception to locate

4) Spare tire

5) Spare tire not in factory position

e. Center of steering wheel

f. Side arm rests and arm rests with vinyl backing attached

by velcro

g. Rear of front seats and console

h. False gas tanks or false compartments within tank

i. Areas behind wheel wells that are accessible from exterior

j. Propane tanks

k. False areas in camper shells

l. Hollowed out lumber or dry wall

m. Use your imagination !!! The location of a concealed compartment is solely up to the imagination of a courier

Indicators from the driver and/or passenger:

1. Driver exits the vehicle rapidly and comes back to the patrol car

2. Often gives signs of fertile behavior or nervousness

3. Many times are or have resided in the Miami area

4. What does a courier look like?

a. Usually between 20-40 years old, average age 32

b. Many unemployed

c. Many don't fit the vehicle

d. Unshaved appearance

e. Two man teams are common - women and women with children also used

f. Many are immigrants:

1) Cuba

2) Mexico

3) Colombians

4) Some Pakistani's involved in heroin

5) Immigrants from El Salvador and Nicaragua starting to get involved to fund weapons

5. May have residue of white powder on nose or mustache

6). Will have sniffles if a user

a. Observe nose for lack of nasal hair or redness

b. Very common to find couriers as users

7. Identification for person and vehicle will appear confusing - called two party vehicles

a. Driver license from one state, vehicle registered in another

b. Many cases cars are leased or rented in another name

1) Check additional driver portion of agreement for driver's name

2) Should be written at time of lease

c. If not rented - most likely driver will not be the owner

1) Will often state first name only of owner or leased

2) State they are just paid to drive it and drop it off or call pagers or phone number

3) Will provide very little information on how to contact owner or will not know

d. Mileage on car compared to mileage at time of rental will be excessive

e. Expensive car with no lien

f. Older car recently transferred from another state

8. May have extensive jewelry, cash, or credit cards on person

9. Itinerary does not fit occupation or amount of luggage in vehicle, etc.

10. Occupant and driver give different routes of travel - should separate

11. Will often deny being in source city

a. May have to observe items in car to determine his departure point

b. Known source states:

1) Florida - Miami

2) Texas - Brownsville, Houston

3) New Jersey - Union City, W. New York, North Bergen

4) Illinois - Chicago

5) Indiana - Gary

6) Massachusetts - Boston

12. They are paid only to drive the vehicle - often contributes to obtaining consent

13. At times may be following or being followed by a "friend" (trailer vehicle).

14. Driver should be monitored for body language while discussing his trip, etc.

a. Will have separate class on how to properly question and evaluate the courier

In addition to the indicators of those transporting drugs, we should also be aware of those items used in the manufacturing of cocaine that might also be found during a stop

1. Large quantity of rubbermaid trash cans

2. Large amount of cheese cloth or coffee filters

3. Multiple microwave ovens

4. Multiple heat lamps

5. Large quantities of mannitol used as cutting agent

a. Dietic drug for kidney analysis

6. Large drums that don't appear to fit the vehicle

a. Look for labeling, etc.

NOTES

"Profile" is a bad term to use when referring to your observations of vehicle, driver and contents. Use "indicators".

Conversation with suspect is very important. If you feel you may ask for a consent search keep your conversation casual and non-aggressive.

Prior to asking suspect for a consent search conclude all activity related to your probable cause stop or original contact. This is to include returning all his documents, o.l., registration, citation, etc. The suspect should be ready to leave and there should be the feeling of freedom to leave on his part.

Be extremely cautious and watchful of additional suspect in other vehicles travelling with your suspect.

Recommended policy on a positive consent search is to stop once any contraband has been discovered. Continue after search warrant has been obtained.

Please step aside -- I've got a real war to fight!

geezmeister
(Of Counsel)
09-13-04 21:01
No 531174
      well, that helps...

That limits the possible drug couriers to three out of every four cars on the highway.

Look for any car of any size, usually General Motors since they make more of them than anyone else...look for cars that are working, and have an antenna or two, or not, depending on your gut feeling if the person driving is or is not a drug courier. Look especially for rental cars, and those with drivers that obey all the traffic laws.. after all, we know drug couriers are careful drivers, except for the ones that aren't, which are the rest of them. Resting in rest stops is a good indication of a drug courier, or someone who needs to stop at a rest stop. If they look like a drug courier, or someone who isn't a WASP, suspect they are a drug courier resting in a rest stop rather than taking drugs to stay awake.

Also look for ordinary, normal items that people travelling across country tend to have in the car, like thermos bottles, maps, atlases, trash, fast food wrappers, tools, spare tires, kids...etc.

Above all be on the look out for FERTILE drivers. These are drug couriers everytime. Look for two or more fertile drivers. OR a whole family... women and children and such...
with raw noses and the sniffles and no nose hair.. but very FERTILE. Drug users breed like rabbits, so look for sex going on while couriers are driving down the interstates.

Like most profiles, the police will note anything they can about the vehicle and the person driving it and claim these factors fit the "profile." Which goes to show they don't have a profile after all. They are stopping on mere suspcicion because it pays well. Period.

mostly harmless

methyl_ethyl
(Guardian)
09-14-04 00:38
No 531202
User Picture       LMFAO

Yes the whole fertility indicator is quite interesting.

After careful consideration every southern redneck fits the indication of a drug courier. Be very aware of those with spare tires in the back seat, and screws on the floor, not to mention duct tape (most drug couriers carry the silver or the white kind), LOL. I remember reading here that crack dealers swear by keeping tissues on the back dash area. Looks like that time tested method has been foiled... he he...

Although realizing I mis-read the spare tire section I thought it read that to be on the lookour for Spare Tires mounted _{in the center of the steering wheel}. Now that would be weird smile

regards,

m_e

   Unipolar Mania, It's good for life... laugh

Drug_Phreak
(Hive Bee)
09-14-04 05:40
No 531232
      Re: 22. Citrus fruit Oh yeah...

22. Citrus fruit

Oh yeah... watch out for that Citrus fruit as it's just crucial for drug smuggling! laugh

Crank is part of this complete breakfast.

Trenchcoat
(Hive Bee)
09-14-04 08:53
No 531256
User Picture       Re: citrus fruit

Citrus fruit can be used to make pruno (hooch). Since many drug couriers have been through the revolving-door prison system they are accustomed to making their own alcohol.

Better loving through chemistry.

Osmium
(Stoni's sexual toy)
09-14-04 12:18
No 531267
User Picture       Yeah, I always have a bunch of fermenting...

Yeah, I always have a bunch of fermenting broth in my car too when I'm transporting a few keys of coke across borders...

BUSH/CHENEY 2004! After all, it ain't my country!
www.american-buddha.com/addict.war.1.htm

thefupster
(Hive Bee)
09-14-04 19:16
No 531313
User Picture       citrus

citrus fruits such as limes and lemons are used to neutralize odor. this isn't completely unfounded. most of these are understandable, but rely on an officer's VERY discriminating eye; whether an officer has a discriminating eye is a matter of debate depending on the individual officer. not everyone can be discriminating, i completely agree - and that's what leads to 989879 of every 1,000,000 people being suspicious or whatever. this sort of legal writing allows anyone to be pulled over on any suspicion.

"The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it."
-Abbie Hoffman

methyl_ethyl
(Guardian)
09-15-04 00:16
No 531346
User Picture       RE

1. Driver exits the vehicle rapidly and comes back to the patrol car

Is this not what is expected in states such as Oklahoma? For some reason I thought there were a few isolated regions of states that expect you to exit your vehicle and approach the patrol car.

   Unipolar Mania, It's good for life... laugh

geezmeister
(Of Counsel)
09-15-04 14:47
No 531463
      they got pissy about that

The OHP got downright pissy about that back in the early eighties. I always considered it good practice to get out of the car and just go sit in the trooper's car. You invade his space, he doesn't invade yours. There was a long time that getting out of the car was good practice.

As the profit motive from drug forfietures increased, the cops wanted you to remain in the car and got to the point that they considered you getting out of your car suspicious. They figure you have something in the car (besides the open twelve pack of beer) you are trying to hide.

So M_E, you had it right... That was the best practice. Do it now and you likely will have a gun drawn on you, or you will be told to get back in the car. Even in Oklahoma.

mostly harmless

ApprenticeCook
(Hive Addict)
09-17-04 07:11
No 531745
      this is fucked....

1. Large or late model cars with large trunks - GM most popular.
a. Intermediate size also used.
b. Occasionally a smaller car will be involved.
So in other words they are looking at all cars?

2. Older car in top running condition.
Watch out all you 60+ old folks in your vintage, you may be detained for drug transportation!

Oh shit where to start with the number plate bullshit....

2. Road maps or atlas
Tourists?

16. High mileage on new car
Sales rep? govt rep?

This is so full of shit.....
But so are most police and police information booklets on such matters....

-AC

Its just my opinion, but no-one listens to me anyway, and rightly so...

geezmeister
(Of Counsel)
09-17-04 13:42
No 531774
      court comments

If you study cases in which the circuit courts have been critical of drug courier profiling, you will find their attitude has usually been that the criteria for the profile are so inclusive and ambiguous, they provide no actual profile at all. The tenth circuit had a case where the noted highway patrol testimony about factors they considered as indicative of drug couriers, and concluded the profile was whatever the cops wanted it to be at any given stop.

That's the point, I think, in the post. Make the criteria broad enough, and you can claim you stopped anyone for a reason. The courts don't always buy that, fortunately.

mostly harmless

Drug_Phreak
(Hive Bee)
09-18-04 20:01
No 532024
      In my opinion the police motto in the US ...

In my opinion the police motto in the US should read "To serve and protect the government" instead of the misinforming "To serve and protect the people". mad

Crank is part of this complete breakfast.

yei
(Newbee)
09-23-04 23:55
No 532916
      well-used tissues?

Now that's pretty gross.

Keeping the drive interesting on those late nights, I presume?

_{It's good to bee back! Don't trust your computer!!}

Artex
(Stranger)
09-27-04 19:06
No 533423
      No.

Absolutely not. Do not approach the officers unless you are asked to get out of your vehicle. If you pull over enough for them to stand at the driver's side of your vehicle without endangering themselves to traffic, you'll find turning off your radio and leaving your hands in a visible place, (10 and 2 on the wheel) will go a very long way to being treated curteously by a peace officer.

Guys, most shootings on the side of the road begin with someone surprising the officers. They get really tweaky when they've got someone pulled over on the side of the road. Treat them with respect and they'll have no reason to suspect you or search your vehicle.

Keep in mind though, if they establish probable cause, (by detecting the odor of Marajuana for example) they have the right to search your car bumper to bumper immediately without your consent.

geezmeister
(Of Counsel)
09-27-04 21:22
No 533436
      police academy

Treat them with respect and they'll have no reason to suspect you or search your vehicle.

Yeah, sure...
Keep in mind though, if they establish probable cause, (by detecting the odor of Marajuana for example) they have the right to search your car bumper to bumper immediately without your consent.

Just what they teach at the police academy. They forget to tell the new guys that the Supreme Court acknowledged that the smell of burned marijuana in the passenger compartment is not probable cause for a search of the trunk. This is, of course, at odds with what the police wanted to hear, so they largely disregard the opinion, allowing defense lawyers to make money at the expense of people who smoke pot while driving.

I really suspect we have enough cops lurking here as it is.

mostly harmless

Osmium
(Stoni's sexual toy)
09-27-04 22:10
No 533447
User Picture       > Do not approach the officers unless you...

> Do not approach the officers unless you are asked to get out of your vehicle.

Sir YES SIR!!!

The only time I would stay inside voluntarily was in pouring rain. Otherwise Idecide whether I want to get out of my car or not.

> If you pull over enough for them to stand at the driver's side of your vehicle
> without endangering themselves to traffic,

In many civilized countries it is illegal to stop on a highway except in an emergency...
If the pig wants me to stop on a busy street with fast traffic, and wants me to stay inside my car while he approaches me from behind with a hand on his gun then it certainly isn't MY problem if he safely makes it to the driver's door or not. I didn't choose to stop my car in such a crazy place voluntarily.

> you'll find turning off your radio

S'cuse me ossifer, but I like the song that's playing right now. It will be over in a minute.

> and leaving your hands in a visible place, (10 and 2 on the wheel) will go a
> very long way to being treated curteously by a peace officer.

When I got an itch then I need to scratch it, especially when I got the chance to hand some piggy my paperwork with hands that smell like ass.

> Guys, most shootings on the side of the road begin with someone surprising the
> officers. They get really tweaky when they've got someone pulled over on the
> side of the road.

If they cannot handle the job then they should find another one. Or use the buddy principle (20 against one) like they always do when they expect someone to resist. Last time I checked the principle of presumption of innocence still existed.

> Treat them with respect and they'll have no reason to suspect you or search
> your vehicle.

Respect needs to be earned, it cannot be ordered to be given.

BUSH/CHENEY 2004! After all, it ain't my country!
www.american-buddha.com/addict.war.1.htm

Artex
(Stranger)
09-28-04 14:18
No 533555
      Caselaw

I'd like to see the citation on that caselaw Geezmeister. Please? I think you'll find if you shepardize it your opinion is quite outdated.

Os, your discussion is laced with too much venom to merit an intelligent response. If you'd like to engage in meaningful discourse, I'd be glad to respond.

geezmeister
(Of Counsel)
09-28-04 18:36
No 533600
      haven't been at it very long?

Artex: You haven't been at this very long, have you?

The fact that someone smokes a joint in a car does not provide probable cause that there is pot in the trunk of the car. It does provide probable cause that there is pot in the passenger compartment. The reasonableness requirement of the fourth amendment is not offended by the search of the interior of the car because the officer has a factual basis for concluding that evidence of a crime may be found there; the automobile provides the exigency obviating the need for a warrant. Factually, that marijuana has been smoked in the car does not provide any reasonable inference that there is also pot in the trunk of the car, and a search of the trunk is not therefore reasonable.

Usually by the time the officer finishes searching the interior compartment of the car the canine officer has instructed the dog to hit on the trunk anyway.... so the point is largely academic these days.

I am not at all surprised that you are not aware of that particular case. I know many ADA's who are not, and have spent many years educating District Atttorneys and judges on search and seizure law. That is, after all, what defense attorneys really do for a living. wink

Why we manage to continue doing it is another matter. Cops leave after they testify and do not hear the judge rule that the search exceeded the scope of the stop, or that it was too broad. They continue to do what they learned to do at the academy, and defense attorneys continue to look like heroes getting cases thrown out.

mostly harmless

Artex
(Stranger)
09-28-04 18:42
No 533602
      Very long...

Nope. I'm going into my third year as a prosecutor. However, we just had a conference on warrantless search and seizure and I'd check out the following cases regarding traffic stops:

Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106

Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408, 137 L. Ed. 2d 41, 117 S. Ct. 882 (1997) (extending Mimms rule to approve similar orders given to passengers of stopped vehicles).

and

United Staes v. Brigham, 2004 US App. Lexis 17601 (Aug. 19, 2004)

Also see Thornton v. United States, 124 S. Ct. 2127 which is flagged yellow by Shepards. The search of the driver's wingspan incident to arrest allows for essentially a 'terry frisk of the compartment' That search for weapons can happen before during or after the arrest of the driver.

Keep in mind, that's a weapons search. In a PC search where contraband is detected, the 'whif' of marajuana when detected by an officer gives the same PC as when a dog catches it. Again, I don't see any case law on the subject that would require an officer to refrain from searching the trunk. In fact, if you follow the Shepards you reach the following quotation from Edwards (United States v. Edwards, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12695 (D. Kan. June 21, 2004)):

"The Supreme Court has also recognized an "automobile exception" which has no exigency [*21] requirement. See Pennsylvania v. Labron, 518 U.S. 938, 940, 135 L. Ed. 2d 1031, 116 S. Ct. 2485 (1996). HN7If a car is readily mobile and probable cause exists to believe that it contains contraband, the Fourth Amendment permits police to search the vehicle. Id.; see Maryland v. Dyson, 527 U.S. 465, 466-67, 144 L. Ed. 2d 442, 119 S. Ct. 2013 (1999)."

Which means, I believe, that with PC you can go bumper to bumper.

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