# Stealing narcotics from the Post Office or VA not a federal offence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330 "2019-08-27T20:03:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/1 "2019-08-27T20:03:29Z")
A coworker takes oxycodone/Oxycontin for back pain. One bottle of pills was sent to him by the VA, and he never received it. The delivery receipt had a forged signature on it. He told the VA, do _not_ mail the pills again. So they mailed the pills again. They show as having been scanned in at the Post Office, but now they’re missing without a trace. He called the FBI’s Seattle office to make a report, but they told him that stealing narcotics from the Post Office or the VA is not a federal offence. Huh? 😕 I don’t understand how stealing a federally-controlled substance from a federal agency is not a federal offence. What am I missing? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/2 "2019-08-27T20:10:51Z")
It is definitely a federal crime. [18 USC 1708](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1708) for starters. However, the primary investigatory body for postal crime is the [U.S. Postal Inspection Service](https://www.uspis.gov/report/). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/3 "2019-08-27T20:16:37Z")
Thanks, **Tired and Cranky**. I’ve sent my coworker the links. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/4 "2019-08-27T20:42:34Z")
I wonder why anyone had to sign at all? Admittedly this was a few years ago but I got controlled substances mailed by the VA and I would see the mailman scan if before he stuck it in the mailbox, but I never had to sign for anything. My info might be out of date though. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/5 "2019-08-27T20:55:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > A coworker takes oxycodone/Oxycontin for back pain. One bottle of pills was sent to him by the VA, and he never received it. The delivery receipt had a forged signature on it. He told the VA, do _not_ mail the pills again. So they mailed the pills again. They show as having been scanned in at the Post Office, but now they’re missing without a trace. He called the FBI’s Seattle office to make a report, but they told him that stealing narcotics from the Post Office or the VA is not a federal offence. > > Huh? 😕 > > I don’t understand how stealing a federally-controlled substance from a federal agency is not a federal offence. What am I missing? 😕 I disclaim all knowledge or advice, but I would think it would also potentially be a violation of 21 USC 843(a)(3). ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/6 "2019-08-28T01:50:27Z")
Someone knows those pills are being mailed as I doubt the package says what’s inside. Did your friend mention they are mailed to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stealing-narcotics-from-the-post-office-or-va-not-a-federal-offence/839330/7 "2019-08-28T04:24:12Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > Someone knows those pills are being mailed as I doubt the package says what’s inside. People in the Post Office are probably quite familiar with who sends medications, what type, etc. I don’t know how they’d know that a specific package contained narcotics, but at least they’d have a very good idea of what packages contain medication.