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Pushing the Envelope: How Contraband Disrupts the Mail

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Reese
  • 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Mail for troops is something deployed service members look forward to, sometimes more so than even phone calls and Facebook friend requests. Despite the constant, daily mail for more than 6,000 personnel stationed at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, it takes only one piece of contraband to affect the flow.

"If any forbidden items are suspected in packages, the box is opened and inspected," said Senior Airman Nicolas Money, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron post office worker. Money said that every piece of incoming and outgoing mail is processed through x-ray scanners by host-nation customs. "If the item is prohibited, it is confiscated, paperwork is completed and the individual is notified the item was confiscated."

Aside from the inconvenience of property confiscation, attempting to send or receive contraband may potentially have very adverse effects for everyone.

"Depending on the severity of the contraband, mail can be stopped for anywhere from one day, to a week, even indefinitely," Money said.

Preventing disruptions is easy: wing and coalition personnel can keep the mail flowing by not sending or receiving any of the items on the restricted items list, which ranges from radioactive material and weapons, to items as simple as rocks from the ground or local food from downtown. While some items, such as tobacco, are allowed, there is a fine line on the exact quantity that can be shipped before it becomes a problem.

"A lot of people try to send an excessive amount of tobacco, when you're only allowed to send ten ounces," said Senior Airman Phylicia Portlow, 379th ECS Post Office.

Portlow also addressed mailing batteries containing lithium.

"When dealing with lithium batteries, a lot of patrons don't know you can only send batteries with 4 cells or less," Portlow said. "So, although the ban has been lifted, if your package goes through a different agency or country that doesn't allow this type of battery, it will be returned to sender."

Members can verify their products are safe to send by checking the list posted at every post office on the base. Doing so not only secures the flow of mail, but also promotes morale.

"Even with cell phones and e-mail services available sending and receiving mail from loved ones is a great morale boost while deployed," said Master Sgt. Jason Shaw 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron Post Master.

It's the responsibility of all service members to ensure the more than 2,100 packages sent and received each day is contraband-free so all Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines can count on the undisrupted flow of mail.