The Supreme Court held that even when a private person opens a package and then reseals it, a DEA agent can reopen the package to see what the private person saw without a search warrant in the case of:

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Simon Estrada

Social Studies

9 September, 16:31

The Supreme Court held that even when a private person opens a package and then reseals it, a DEA agent can reopen the package to see what the private person saw without a search warrant in the case of:

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Burns · Answer 1

Answer: United States v. Jacobsen

Explanation: This case was argued on December 7, 1983 and decided on April 2, 1984. While examining a damaged package, employees of a private freight carrier observed a white powdery substance concealed in a tube inside the package. The employees notified the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and put the tube back into the box. When a DEA agent arrived, he removed the tube from the box, saw the white powder, opened the bags, removed a trace of the powder, subjected it to a field chemical test, and determined it was cocaine.

A search warrant was executed on the address on package and therespondents were arrested. After respondents were indicted for possessing an illegal substance with intent to distribute, their motion to suppress the evidence on the ground that the warrant was the product of an illegal search and seizure was denied, and they were tried and convicted.