United States v. Ramsey
United States Supreme Court
431 U.S. 606 (1977)
Relevant factsFree
A customs inspector in New York intercepted eight envelopes mailed from Thailand, a known drug-exporting country, to Charles Ramsey and James Kelly (defendants) in Washington, D.C. The envelopes were noticeably fatter and heavier than ordinary airmail, and the inspector, suspecting contraband, opened them without a warrant, finding drugs that led to a DEA sting and the defendants' arrest.
IssueFree
Whether, under the Fourth Amendment, mail entering the country can be searched without probable cause or a warrant.