Practice area

Courier, parcel and airport seizures

Defence in cases arising from seized parcels, courier consignments and airport searches, including controlled delivery.

Seizures at airports, post offices and courier hubs involve additional agencies, such as customs, and additional procedures. People are sometimes arrested for parcels they did not send, or for packages they did not know were in their possession.

What this work involves

• Intercepted parcels and courier consignments: the link between the sender, the recipient and the package
• Controlled delivery under the Act, and how it was conducted and documented
• Airport and customs searches: personal search, baggage search and the role of the customs and narcotics officers
• Cases of unknowing carriage and misuse of a person's identity or address
• Digital evidence: phone records, messages and payment trails used by the prosecution
• Statements recorded by different agencies, and their legal effect
• Bail and trial defence

Frequently asked questions

I received a parcel I did not order. What should I do?

Do not open or accept it, and take legal advice immediately. Keep a record of how it reached you.

Can I be prosecuted for a parcel sent in my name?

The prosecution must establish knowledge and involvement. Each case turns on the evidence linking the person to the consignment.

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