“The Mailman is a Cop”: How Heavily Taped Packages Lead to SWAT Raids

By: John Guidry

Ever notice that sometimes your mail takes a tad longer to arrive than it should? It could be the weather. Or, it could be that Big Brother decided to pull your package from the delivery line as part of their ongoing effort to detect drug trafficking via Express Mail. What you might not expect is that the Constitution protects your mail from government intrusion—but there are specific “Red Flags” that will convince a Judge to let them open it.

Did you get arrested after signing for a package you “didn’t order”?

This is a Controlled Delivery. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Anatomy of a Mail Bust

Here is the breakdown of what happens when the Postal Inspector suspects a package contains drugs:

1. The Seizure: The package is pulled out of the normal mail cycle. Legally, this is a “seizure,” so the police must have Reasonable Suspicion based on the package’s appearance (see the list below).
2. The Dog Sniff: They line up 6 packages (5 dummy packages, 1 suspect package). If the K-9 alerts, they get a search warrant to open it.
3. The Controlled Delivery: If drugs are found, they don’t just seize them. An undercover cop dresses as a mail carrier, drives the truck to your house, and asks you to sign for it.
4. The Raid: The moment you sign and take the package inside, the SWAT team (which is hiding down the street) executes an Anticipatory Search Warrant on your home.

The “Drug Package Profile” (7 Red Flags)

Courts have developed a list of factors that, while innocent individually, can add up to Reasonable Suspicion. In United States v. Angel Colon, the court outlined these deadly indicators:

1. Express Mail: 99% of legitimate Express Mail is paperwork (checks, contracts). When police see a box sent Express, they get suspicious. Traffickers love Express because it allows them to track the package’s location in real-time.
2. Heavy Taping: There is an urban myth that heavy taping stops drug dogs from smelling the contents. It doesn’t. But it does signal to the police that you are trying to hide something.
3. The Weight: Traffickers often ship in specific quantities (e.g., 1 Kilo + packing material). Police know exactly what a “Kilo Box” weighs.
4. Source City: If the package comes from a known “Source City” (like Puerto Rico, California, or Colorado), suspicion rises.
5. Handwritten Labels: Most legitimate Express Mail comes from businesses with printed labels. A handwritten label on an expensive Express package is a major red flag.
6. Mismatched Zip Codes: The package was mailed from a zip code different than the return address.
7. Fictitious Sender: Police use databases like Accurint (or just Google/Facebook) to check the return address. If “John Doe” doesn’t live at the return address, they know it’s a burner package.

John’s 2026 Update: The “Blind Drop” Defense

Note: In 2010, they caught you because the label was handwritten. In 2026, they catch you because you tracked the package on your phone.

1. The “I Didn’t Order It” Defense With Amazon delivering a billion packages a year, and “Porch Pirates” stealing them, it is easier than ever to claim ignorance.

• The Defense: “I didn’t know what was in that box. It just showed up, and I signed for it like I sign for everything else.”
• The Prosecution’s Counter: They will seize your phone. If they find the Tracking Number in your search history or the USPS app, they prove you were expecting the package.

2. AI & Automated Sorting The Postal Service now uses AI-powered sorters that automatically flag packages based on the Colon factors.

• The Reality: It’s not just a hunch anymore. The machine flags the package because it matches the data profile of previous drug seizures. This makes “Reasonable Suspicion” harder to fight.

3. The Hemp Confusion Traffickers now use “Hemp” documentation to disguise marijuana shipments.

• The Problem: Dogs often alert to legal Hemp.
• The Defense: If the package contained legal Hemp (Delta-8/CBD) but the dog alerted, we challenge the warrant. The dog cannot distinguish between legal and illegal cannabis, potentially invalidating the seizure.

Don’t Sign for the Trap

If a mail carrier is pushing you hard to sign for a package you didn’t expect, or if the delivery feels “off,” be careful. It might be a Controlled Delivery. And if you have already been arrested, do not speak to the investigators.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s analyze the warrant.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.