And in Galesburg, Illinois, population 32,193, officers from the Galesburg Police Department and the Knox County Sheriffs Department have reportedly seized 191 pounds of cannabis from Amtrak passengers over a period of six years, in addition to some harder drugs. Beth hired a lawyer and pulled the transcripts from Perrys recorder, arguing that that the search wasnt consensual. -The Coast Starlight which offers service between Seattle and Los Angeles. Free ID tags are available at all of our stations. Theyve targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. Thats part of the appeal. This next reader was told that he raised suspicion as the result of a characteristic I share: While traveling on Amtrak from Chicago to Toronto the train was boarded by U.S. Customs agents who proceeded to take me and my luggage off of the train to a small shed where everything was searched. The pleasant trip ended at approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 7, 2008, when DEA Special Agent Mark Hyland and Stephen Surprenant de Garcia, an officer assigned to the DEAs local interdiction task force, approached McKenzie as he smoked a cigarette in Albuquerque. Please enter a password. Advance check-in is recommended. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. By following these policies, you'll have everything you need to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. You live on site. I learned to pack it all in that plus my briefcase. Two recent articles about the Drug Enforcement Administration harassing Amtrak passengers have elicited like responses from a number of Atlantic readers. The Amtrak secretary started using his access to Amtraks reservation system to regularly look for people who might be planning to transport illegal drugs or money, based solely on subtle clues like one-way itineraries for private bedrooms, trips booked on short notice, trips booked by third parties, and trips paid in cash. His secret weapons are a trainstationin his district that seem to attract an inordinate amount of drug trafficking, and a capacious interpretation of the Constitutions tolerance for stops and searches. Sometimes there will be police with drug/bomb-sniffing dogs in the larger stations, but there's no screening or any real restrictions on what you can bring, regardless of if it's a carry-on or a checked bag. Please enter a password. . And though he did have a prior criminal record, for possessing marijuana and allegedly delivering and manufacturing it, as well as a felony gun possession charge that was later dismissed, the DEA wasnt actually arresting him or charging him with a crime. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches each, and two carry-on items, 50 lbs. Might I ask what kind of room you'll be in? The juror misspelled his name, but its the sentiment expressed that matters to McKenzie. Maybe thats a coincidence. She later admitted that she was transporting the drugs in exchange for $2,500. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. Mine happened in Arizona (don't remember exactly where), but I was finally told (when I tried to repeatedly ask why I was being harassed) that I "matched a description" of a drug dealer. Amtrak does not have any security screening procedure of pretty much any kind. Right now, youre traveling across the United States.. Passwords are case sensitive. Would it be best to check the bags at Anaheim for Seattle? National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/checked-baggage. My checked bags arrived at KFS the night on #11 before I arrived in the morning, and was stored until #14 that I was on arrived. On a trip to LA, my suitcase arrived the next day. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. He still remembers how his mind was blown by the views of Native American reservations on the way from Arizona to New Mexico, and how he couldnt help chiming in when he overheard some kids in the dining car complain to their grandmother that they were bored. They alerted the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General, which determined in an investigation that the payments were wasting substantial government funds, according to a heavily redacted copy of the OIG report obtained by The Intercept via a Freedom of Information Act request. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. Amtrak cooperates fully with federal authorities and federal law, Amtraks press team wrote in a prepared statement. That answer wasnt correct either. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. This last reader was once inconvenienced for an hour while the DEA searched her Amtrak train. It was very easy and convenient this way, and made it quicker for our many on/off the train in the various cities we visited. It was filled with nothing but bundles of cash wrapped in tissue paper. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. @media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) { Edgar Manukian demanded the officers names. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. This was all legal under civil forfeiture, the quirk of the American criminal justice systemunder which a persons property can be seized even if they are not convicted, or even accused, of a crime. Amtrak does not require a printed ticket for boarding. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/carry-on-baggage. ), which does not count toward the carry-on baggage or personal item limit. Rivers said he was stunned. Hes currently serving 262 months in New Jersey. How much does it cost to check a bag with Amtrak? However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each, onboard. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . I just read your article about the DEA harassing people on Amtrak. Bows, arrows and other archery supplies are allowed in checked baggage when transported in a suitable hard case container. For each drug bust or cash seizure that the DEA made thanks to this information, the Amtrak secretary was rewarded a cut of the proceeds. Where will my animal sit during the train ride? Boxes and bags are available for purchase at select stations to help transport some of the items you wish to take with you checked baggage. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. Checked baggage must be dropped off at the Amtrak station prior to boarding and will be placed in the baggage car on the train. The man was allegedly trying to smuggle crystal meth in size 18 shoes for someone he knew only as Big Pun. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. I can't honestly say I felt intimidated but I also recognize that it could have gone down very differently for someone who is not used to dealing with such situations, or someone having a different profileor indeed someone who legitimately forgot their ID at home. How do I know if my pet qualifies as a service animal? Perry listened to his story and then explained that the DEA would be seizing the cash. To speak with an experienced criminal defense trial lawyer, call 309-734-1001 and we will provide you with a no-obligation consultation at your earliest convenience. The Amtrak employee received an unknown monetary reward based on the information they sent over. That was it. Personally, I've never had anyone check my luggage on any train, but I also don't travel with any kind of drugs beyond my prescriptions. When you arrive at the station inform the Amtrak personnel that you are traveling with a service animal. privacy policy. and our The next month, in an arrest celebrated by the U.S. attorneys office, Perry will recover 18 pounds of fentanyl from a 21-year-old woman riding the Southwest Chief in coach. Checked Baggage . Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags. I appreciate your input. Yes Amtrak does offer checked baggage services at select stations. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. McKenzie, the drugdealer, also unsuccessfully fought his case on the basis that the search of his property on an Amtrak train was unconstitutional. Good luck with your story. Im not a drug courier, Beth told The Intercept. You want my name? Hes not carrying a visible warrant or a train ticket and has no drug dog with him. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Hey, theyve more or less written, Ive been harassed aboard Amtrak, too!. Unfortunately, trains are sometimes delayed and food supplies may become limited. That might be illegal, but the agents cover . } Last year, Greyhound tried to kick the DEA out of its Albuquerque station. I wasnt sure. A previous International Narcotics Interdiction Associations Agent/Officer of the Year, Special Agent Perry with the Drug Enforcement Administration is behind as many as 1,600 criminal cases against drug couriers, according to court documents touting his credibility as a star government witness. Even if he searched and found a moderate amount of drugs in my bags, how does he prove they're mine? Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags. The person who recruited the Amtrak secretary as a DEA snitch described him to Department of Justice auditors in 2015 as one of the most valuable interdiction informants the DEA has ever known. Amtrak itineraries were a goldmine, the person added, responsible for the seizure of millions of dollars.. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. With Beths permission, Perry opened a suitcase she had stowed away in her room. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? You must be capable of self-administering any medications you bring with you. Greyhound bus service declined to address the allegations that Perry or other DEA agents had touched or opened passengers bags, but added that the company does not provide passenger manifests to outside law enforcement unless it is an immediate life endangerment issue. The statement directly contradicts testimony that Perry gave in March 2019, describing how he receives, via email from a confidential source, the record of passengers coming to Albuquerque on the Greyhound almost every day. We serve alcoholic beverages onboard trains in most Dining, Lounge and Caf Cars. Passengers tell stories of being awakened on a stop and being searched right there at their seats. Check-in times vary by station, so check the station detail page for the stations served by your train for specific times. Perry, he said, has the easiest job in the world because he is catching the lowest-level couriers., Amy Martyn[emailprotected]gmail.com@amysilstein.
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