Man Attempts to Use Courier To Smuggle Drugs

The courier industry is a fairly safe business to be in. Most of our deliveries are business to business. But there are also some dangers couriers encounter on a daily basis, such as delivery of drugs, which is exactly what occurred in New Delphi.

Tarun Jain, businessman in Rohini, attempted three times to use a courier to smuggle a very large amount of liquor from city to city last week report Yahoo News. "On July 16, we received a tip-off that a huge quantity of illicit liquor was being smuggled with the help of couriers and courier companies operating in Paharganj area. We were asked to keep a lookout," said police commissioner DC Shrivastava. Jain's business was not doing well, so he decided to smuggle liquor. Couriers can deliver small pick ups of alcohol if they are licensed in certain areas. However, a large quantity of alcohol is not the legal for couriers to make.

Another incident of drug traffic by a courier occurred in 2008, when Luc Bolea, a courier in Montreal, Canada, agreed to participate in the illegal activity. Bolea delivered $375,000 to Vancouver, picked up the drugs and returned to Montreal. "Mr. Bolea was entrusted to take $375,000 across the country," said prosecutor Martha Devlin. She also stated, "Then he was entrusted to examine the 50 kilograms of cocaine and confirm for his co-conspirators that the cocaine was all there."

Undercover cops were able to spoil the drug deal. Unlike other attempts, Bolea was well aware of what he was involved in. He was arrested and will receive at least 3 years in jail. Delivery Services can not take their profession and use for illegal causes. The industry has enough people trying to use courier for the wrong purpose as is. Courier companies must take strong precautions and handle their safety protocol seriously.

Courier services like A-1 Express advise their staff to always question anything that is suspicious. If the business has large freight and has a high dollar value, that is an indicator to ask more questions about the freight. A-1 Express is the recognized leading provider of same-day transportation and distribution services across the country. We assure we have qualified driver personnel who will deny pick up of any suspicious packages as well. As a courier, we must always be mindful and aware of drug activity because 100% safety is our goal.

References: 7.18.12, yahoo news, HT Correspondent/Hindustan Times-Man held for smuggling liquor; 7.19.12, Keith Fraser,Vancouver/Province Drug courier deserves eight years

How Common are Bike Messengers Today?

With names like “Aero,” and “City Sprint” bike messengers have been delivering small parcels, business and legal documents since the bicycle was invented. Western Union even had a livery of “telegraph boys” who delivered messages in San Francisco. Bike messengers are local couriers for population dense areas, where travel by car is difficult or traffic makes quick deliveries impossible. Parking costs in large metro areas, can also cause problems for quick delivers here and there about town.

While it is increasingly easy to email clients important documents, which are crisp and clear, it is not always possible to file completed legal papers with the various courts via email. Many businesses and law practices depend on the quick delivery time and expertise of bike messengers.

With a traditional truck or car based courier service parking and parking fees cut into delivery time and profits, a bike messenger bikes right up to the client's building or courthouse, zipping in and out of traffic and around traffic tie ups with ease. Bike messengers, for a long time, have had the lock on the same day courier market. With more and more business spreading out over metro areas and taking up residence in suburban locations, there has been a decline in the need for bike messengers. Increasing acceptance of electronic communication by the courts and other public entities, the number of bike messengers has shrunk, but in the communities they serve, they are still known for their quick if not quirky same day delivery services.

Small shops, like groceries, pharmacies, and other small businesses are turning to bike messengers to get their products to their customers quickly. In large cities it is not uncommon to see a three wheeled bike with a small cart being pulled behind it. Same day delivery service via bike messenger or bike courier services are a green alternative and bike messenger or bike delivery services are not bound by the delays caused by downtown construction projects and traffic jams.

While many people remember seeing bike messengers depicted in cinema as dare devils and stunt riders, with flashy traffic moves, most bike messengers are safe riders, equipped with up to the date bikes, a lock and their now famous and urban fashion statement, messenger bag. In some cities advanced bike safety training is required to be a bike messenger, as is a helmet. In other areas, the bike messengers work as independent contractors, providing their own bikes and safety gear.

Bike messengers are an important part of how businesses move information from place to place. While electronic communication has drastically changed how businesses communicate with each other and their customers, what hasn't change is if a business needs documents moved across town and quick, a bike messenger is one of the many cross town courier services available to get the job done.