Truth,Lies, and the Invisible World by Venom

I feel we are at a turning point in the world. Governments that were strong for a thousand years are falling. Governments that seemed solid aren't so solid. Alot of the beliefs we grew up with are falling apart and are showing cracks. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. It may not be a good thing either only time will tell. So what is changing these things what is responsible? This wasn't taken down by guns or missiles. They were taken down by education. As resources like the internet have gotten bigger and more vast people have more access to info than they have ever had. Tools like propaganda that governments have used in the past along with the media don't have the control they used to. Now if you want to know what is going on in any country you just go online and ask someone who is there and even get home made videos. In recent times it's become obvious that news organizations have biases therefore they no longer have any credibility but that's ok because we don't really need them.
   At the same time there are those who are afraid. They don't want to know the truth and don't want to see it. They want to cling to outdated values and beliefs. They want to hang on the  the people who want to control them and are all too willing to lie to them and claim we are the crazy ones. Check out this interesting speech by David Icke. Don't worry about those documentaries listed at the end I'll address those later in this article

  As I said before we aren't the crazy ones we are the ones trying to make a difference. Some people are just cowards but they don't have to be. They can change and make a difference it's not too late. I've seen alot of disturbing things this week and I've published alot of disturbing things on this blog. Many of which I'll be reposting for this article because I think you should look at them, I think everyone needs to see them and get out of this damn denial they are all in. When I post this most will never look at it or they will dismiss it's contents. If I can get one person to open their damn eyes then it will be a success. The fact is no one wants you to see this stuff because then you'll start asking questions. When your educated to these things people can't control you anymore. They can't take advantage of an ignorance that is no longer there. But no they don't want that instead they want you to shut up and sit in front of the TV and watch Jersey Shore so you can laugh at them and pretend you are better than them. They want you to watch CNN and blame republicans for everything or watch FOX News and blame democrats and argue about it in bars when the fact is what you think doesn't mean shit. They always say every vote counts. No actually in national elections it doesn't. Bush lost the popular vote when he was elected as has happened with several other presidents. More people voted for Gore but tough shit the electoral college elected Bush. In alabama where I live it will always be carried by republicans. If your a democrat your wasting gas just stay home because your vote won't matter. The opposite is true in many other states but your an asshole if you say that even though it's true.

    People are so wrapped up in themselves and their own ambition they rarely care about anyone else but themselves. Sure there are good people in the world I hope I'm one of them. Unfortunately in modern times good people have become the exception not the rule. It can range from small to big. I'll start with the small. My birthday was last week on October 21st. I try to help people whenever I can. I was honored to have people from all over the world wish me a happy birthday that didn't even know me but they were on my friend's list and facebook told them so they were nice enough to do that for someone they didn't know and make their day better(Thank you for that). Now I know a good many people local that I've worked to help that actually know me. I know a girl who didn't have any furniture and her daughter had to eat off the floor. I had my furniture in storage so I just gave it to her and even helped her move it in for her daughter. I know a guy who's wife was cheating on him with this other guy. I helped get rid of the guy and helped there marriage survive another year(They are gettin a divorce now). I know a girl who was having trouble with college and I did a report for her to try to help her out. I know another one who had self esteem issues trying to lose weight and I always made a point of telling her how pretty she was when I saw her. What do they all have in common? They all had something better to do than type two words on a keyboard for someone who busted his ass for them and asked nothing in return. It doesn't really matter but it would've been nice. Now that is a very small almost irrelevant example but it is a very small example nonetheless. Now for a huge one watch this next video: I want to warn you what you are about to watch is graphic and real this is not fake

    18 damn people walked by before someone did anything. The child died of injuries at the hospital but if someone had lifted a finger earlier the child may have been saved. So what was the excuse? Though the video is in chinese(obviously because this happened in China) since i have friends everywhere a friend of mine in China translated it for me. The main excuse was they were afraid someone would think they were the ones that ran over the child and they'd get in trouble. What a bunch of shit the camera was in full view everyone knew it was there. Once again they though of themselves only and let a child die. Now some would just dismiss that and claim well that's how it is over there in China but we're different here. Oh is that so? Well let's see about that.

   Here is a pic of young James Bulger he wasn't quite 2 years old. I say wasn't because he was kidnapped out of a shopping center in England far away from China and his body was found murdered and mutilated two days later. Witnesses even said he was kicking and screaming begging for help. Well geez if you saw him kicking and screaming you must feel like shit that you didn't do a damn thing. If not you definitely should you should be scarred for life. Plenty of people saw it. As a matter of fact reader the pic on the right is an actual photo from the security camera at the shopping center. That's little James on the left and the teen on the right is the one that murdered him and mutilated his body. Now it was the witnesses themselves who said he was kicking and screaming yet notice them in the pic not doing anything to help Of course if you follow my blogs you know this is the bystander effect that I've documented ad nauseum  in Kitty Genovese and Me as well as the follow up The Genovese Continuum. This was from the original article. Let's look at a re-enactment here in the US and see if the results are any different.

    

    So how many people walked by versus the number that helped? The excuse being they thought someone else would help. You see this is an international problem. Hell a few years ago there was even an incident where a woman was shot to death in a convenient store in San Francisco and people stepped over her and took pics with their cellphones and sent them to friends while the woman lay there dying. They couldn't have cared less. People think these things only go on somewhere else but they are hypocrits because they are no different. Everyone is the center of their own universe while the world goes straight to hell. People there is no innate good in the world. When it comes right down to it the only person you can depend on is yourself so it has to be you that makes the difference. Politicians are all corrupt they aren't gonna help you. The fact is if your getting raped a police officer isn't gonna pop up out of the floor and save you either. They'll show up later and fill out a report and maybe they'll catch the guy but if his dad has money he'll get a lawyer and probably get away with it. The fact is as your reading this unless your aware of these things you are no better than anyone else in those videos. If you want to know the truth have an open mind and research it. Turn the fucking TV off and start asking questions. Question everything hell question this article.
    The first problem starts with us. We've grown lazy. Other countries used to respect us because we were defiant and we stood for things and fought for them. Now many have become complacent and don't deserve that respect. So wrapped up in their on feces they can't see outside off themselves nor do they want to. They fall prey to religious fanaticism or even worse misguided cultures or both. I used to work for a copier company and I traveled to many small towns to work. I can't tell you how many towns I went to where people were impoverished. They lived in shacks that couldn't have cost more than a couple thousand dollars. In the middle of those shacks would be a 4 million dollar church that was supposedly raising money to help the poor and the weak but instead were just taking their money to build a 5 million dollar church. Before you start talking about glorifying God remember a church is not a building it is the people inside of it. God can be just as glorified in a field as an irrelevant building. A building doesn't have feelings it can only glorify the ego of man it can't glorify God so what's the deal there. I remember years ago this town was dry alcohol sales were illegal so the people had to give all their tax money to other cities to help their schools so our kids could remain stupid because the churches in the area said God said so. So when the vote came up a local church here went around to all the nursing homes and told the elderly if they'd register to vote and vote against alcohol they'd take them on a trip somewhere and come see them but if they didn't they die alone and go to hell. People got wind of it and you can buy alcohol here now. When people get up off their asses and stand up they can actually make something happen. A preacher came out against the new law and wanted it repealed! years later when it came up CNN and FOX News came to our town to interview everyone because they thought we would be the first city in US history to repeal that law. It didn't happen and they couldn't make fun of us so they left. That preacher was getting money by the way from a nearby city because our town being wet was hurting their tax revenue. Isn't that just so wonderful, decent, and good? This shit goes on in every city this isn't isolated but you won't know how bad your getting screwed with your ass glued to your seat watching Glee. The fact is people are corrupt as hell. The Bible is a great and wonderful thing but people are not. People distort things and take advantage of them and use them to control people for their own designs. God may be great but you are not.
   I see this evident in the entertainment here especially some country music. I here the same redundant thing in most male artists talking about how their dad plowed the fields and the simple life and appreciating what you have and all that. Well first of all you should appreciate what you have and all that. My problem is that my father worked in a factory job he hated for 35 years and my mother taught preschool. I worked in factories and warehouses most of my adult life. I love my mother and father and appreciate the sacrifices they made. However, I know damn well they didn't make those sacrifices so my life would be worth less or be stuck doing the same shit they had to do. They want better for me as any good parent would. When I here that kind of music I hear settle for what you got, love your oppressor, study religion stay away from the cities and book learning, you gotta be the government's bitch you should want to be controlled. Would you be happy with what you got if you knew what you could've had but it was stolen from you? I think not. Then they go on about the war and if you don't support the war your anti-american. First of all...Fuck You! I have a cousin in a hospital in Afganistan right now in stable condition he was shot monday. I know for a fact alot of the troops over there do not support the war. I support the troops! You bastards prey on the ignorant hoping they don't know the difference. This country was founded by people who stood up and fought for what they believed in. If they thought something wasn't right they said something about it. People like me are real americans not nuthuggers like you. Your just punks and cowards hiding behind outdated ideals because your afraid to grow.
  These will generally be the same people screaming about "immigrants invading america" Well let me educate you. First of all you dumb asses there is no such country as America. America is two continents one being North America and the other being South America. You live in North America in a country call the United States. Sometimes called The United States of America because it is physically on the American continents. Yes you are an american but so are canadians, mexicans, and even brazilians all of whom live on the american continents. You specifically are a United Statesmen if you want to get technical. So when you claim Mexicans are invading America I find it hard to believe since they've been in America thousands of years longer than you. I'm sure they know the name of the country you think they are invading even if you don't even know the name of the country you live in. So they are coming over here just to steal your job right? Well let's look at the working conditions in the border cities where they live shall we?

  Gee why would they ever want to leave that? Yeah if you haven't figured it out already they aren't running to the US they are running away from Mexico for fear off death. They don't care about your job they just don't want to die. Frankly the best solution is a better pathway to legalization which would have them paying taxes just like you which is what your concern is right? Because surely it isn't just because your a racist jerk right? I think Carlos Santana had the best take on it when he said if you don't want immigrants in the US then give the land back to the indians and go back to Europe.
   On the other end of this issue of truth and change and all that are people who are trying to do the right thing but the wrong way. There are people who just love conspiracies they'll promote anything as long as it's a conspiracy and especially if it's anti-american. They put out hoaxes and think they are helping but you can taken down a lie with another lie. It destroys the credibility of people who are trying to make change the right way.Some people out there are reporting real problems but they get overshadowed by crazy wingnuts. There have been several hoaxes I'm going to show you a real messed up one dealing with the 911 tragedy.

 

Take a good look at it. On the internet it says this pic was found in a camera in the rubble off the world trade center. This guy was up there taking a pic when the plane hit the tower and of course he was killed. It would be a sad story and a heartfelt reminder of the tragedy this poor guy had no clue. Except for one thing..this photo is total bullshit. That's right people it's photoshopped. When people saw this they were horrified they never did the research or they would've found out this:

If you look closely at the above image, Midtown Manhattan is discernible in the background behind the blissfully unaware subject, indicating that the photographer was facing north from the location of the Twin Towers at the moment the photo was snapped. Only one of the airliners that collided with the World Trade Center on September 11 approached from that direction — the first, American Airlines Flight #11, which struck the north tower (One World Trade) at 8:45 a.m. The trouble is, the north tower had no rooftop observation deck like the one pictured here. Even if it had, it wouldn't have been open to tourists at such an early hour.

There are additional discrepancies to ponder:

• Why isn't the fast-moving aircraft blurry in the photo?
• Why doesn't the subject (or the photographer, for that matter) seem cognizant of the plane's high-decibel approach?
• The temperature was between 65 and 70 degrees that morning, according to news reports. Why is this man dressed for winter?
• How did the camera survive the 110-story fall when the tower collapsed?
• How was the camera found so quickly amidst all the rubble?
• Why did this one-of-a-kind, newsworthy photo never appear in the media until after it had already been well circulated via email?

  This is once again an example of how sick people are and things they will do to get attention. Now I'll move onto another one that has damaged movements for the truth. I'll now address what I alluded to about the list of documentaries at the end of that first video. I've seen a couple of them. While some have alot of truth some are more wingnut bull that does more harm than good. 911 was a horrible tragedy and even today in 2011 we still don't have all the answers we want. The fact that we still don't have all the answers is enough to make anyone legitimately suspicious. You know as people sometimes when we don't know what's going on with something we imagine the worst. In one of those documentaries which I will not name. There is a part in it where they lay out all this evidence that the US fired a missile into the pentagon and killed all those people on purpose that their were no plane parts at the crash site and the hole in the pentagon was too small to be made by a Boeing 757. They made all of it seem factual and after that part was over you'd be convinced the US attacked the pentagon with a missile. They said no eyewitnesses even saw the plane that some said they saw a missile. After seeing that I was convinced they were right. But unlike most people I did the research and found out everything they said was a lie. So instead of just saying that how bout I just prove it?

    Other pics in the past were obscured by fighter fighters and first responder equipment however this is a perfect view of the impact zone that is supposed to be too small but when you look at those dimensions you can see that it is just about right for a Boeing 757 if you look closely you can see where the right wing did damage on the lower levels.

    Here's a photo taken by a passing motorist right after the plane hit you can see just how huge the impact zone was. I say plane because the motorist who took the pic actually saw the plane hit it and described it to investigators in great detail. In contrast not a single person who had a good view of the impact saw a missile or anything resembling it. Every single eyewitness saw a plane.

On the top left we have debri of the plane taken at the pentagon by first responders. You can compare that wheel to the wheels on the right found on a Boeing 757. Yes they say there was no plane debri...oops there it is right there in the pentagon after it hit.

Let's see what an actual eye witness has to say? His name is Joel v.d. Reijden he was more than happy to give his name:

A large American Airlines jetliner came screaming over the highways with it's gears up, after having circled the Pentagon area. It balanced a little to the left an right, clipped some light poles and other stuff, barely pulled itself straight again and fired up it's engines to full throttle in the last few seconds. Some say it struck the helipad with it's left wing right before it hit the Pentagon and a few others claim it hit the ground with it's nose, only inches before the wall. Just like the two airplanes that hit the WTC; "it disappeared.". A few claim they could see the tail sticking out of the building for about one or two seconds before a very heavy explosion engulfed everything in flames. (Like the WTC) People who were close by, were blown off their feet and some even went flying. Small pieces of airplane, concrete and other rubble was blown out of the building and landed up to hundreds of yards away. The blast was so powerful it blew a few big chunks of the engines hundreds of yards through the air. An intense heat has been described, which melted the back of at least one firetruck which was standing in front of the building.

This testimony has been back up by dozens of other witnesses. So he said American Airlines huh?

Holy Shit! There's actual pics of the plane hull in the grass at the pentagon. Low and behold it's from an American Airlines plane! Oh my God who would've have thought it? Apparently conspiracy theorists missed that. Well.. we know they didn't it was just a hatchett job. So let's recap

 claim: No one saw a plane hit the pentagon

truth: everyone with a good view saw a plane hit the pentagon

claim: some said they saw a missile

truth: no one who was there with a view saw a missile

claim: the hole was too small to be made by a plane

truth: the hole was the perfect size to be made by a plane

claim: there was no plane debri there

truth: there was plane debri everywhere

So does this mean the government isn't hiding something? No they are definitely hiding alot! Did tthe government have something to do with 911. There's evidence that says they did but this was supposed to be evidence of that as well and it was a complete lie. We may never know. The fact is these people wanted to start a stink to get people to ask questions and shock them. What they actually did  was the opposite they destroyed the credibility of people really looking for the truth and made them all look like wingnuts. You  can't takedown a lie with more lies. Look at what happened with the birthers. They look like idiots now. The republicans were smart enough to distance themselves from them early on because they knew what would happen. There's freaky stuff out there going on but lying doesn't help it. I want you all to look at this stuff and start researching. Don't believe everything you read no matter what it says. Be diligent and keep an open mind to find the right answers and educate yourself. We can make a change but it's got to be done the right way.

   In conclusion to summarize this article. Some of the ways the world is set up don't make logical sense when your forced to think about it. Think about what David Icke said and how it applies to you. Understand the conventional wisdom isn't very wise. There are other ways of thinking about things and new perspectives to look at. There are real answers out there. Maybe watch less MTV and watch more History Channel. Get into it don't settle for anyone's explanation you find it yourself and feel empowered to do so this is your world just as much as it is theirs or mine. Don't get caught up in the minutia of politics use common sense to see the real truth. Don't wait around for someone to help you because they may not be there. Wether it's something small like a birthday or if you see someone else in need. You can be the difference maker and you can make the difference. You don't need anyone to make you feel complete. You can empower yourself to get where you need to be stop waiting on someone else to do it for you. Understand what your listening to when you listen to the radio does it have any value? What are the real values you should have and what's important. Don't trust someone just because they are in a position of authority because in today's times you can't trust anyone. Don't get caught up in someone's dogma that does nothing but oppress you. In things like immigration try to be empathetic and understand what the under person may be going through and apply it to your life. Things aren't always what they seem. And last but not least don't believe every crazy thing you hear because everything you hear may be wrong don't be lazy do the work and find out for yourself be a leader and be the best person you can be. Thank you for your time.

Motives for False Confessions by John Reid & Associates

To date, the innocence project has freed in excess of 200 individuals from prison based on DNA evidence.* These innocent defendants were found guilty of serious felonies such as murder and rape.* Furthermore, about twenty percent of them confessed to committing the crime either to the police during an interrogation, or to a judge as a result of a plea bargain with the prosecutor.* What causes innocent people to confess to crimes they did not commit?

The simple answer is that, at the time of the confession, many of these suspects believed that it was in their best interest to confess, e.g., escape a death sentence, keep children out of a foster home, etc.* However, when evaluating individual cases, a number of specific motivations can be identified.* When evaluating the trustworthiness of a confession, the investigator, prosecutor and judge should consider the following motivations for false confessions.

Tangible Gains

When speaking of the value of the polygraph technique, John Reid told the following story.* A man from Chicago confessed to a homicide that occurred in California.* The man was extradited to the west coast and charged with the killing.* At that point he recanted his confession, and explained that he was seeking to escape the cold weather of Illinois.* Of course, no one believed him until Reid was able to verify his truthfulness through the polygraph technique.* Other examples of tangible gains that may lead to a false confession include seeking shelter, food, medical care, and protection (being hunted by drug lords).* These suspects may come forward and confess without any interrogation (the so-called voluntary false confession), or confess after a relatively short and mild interrogation.* Once their need has been satisfied, they recant the confession but find that it is much easier to be charged with a crime than having the charges dropped.

Protecting a loved one

During a new years eve party, a guest was shot in the hosts back yard.* When the police arrived, the hosts teenage son came forward and explained that the guest was arguing with his father so the boy ran into the house, retrieved a shotgun and killed the guest.* The boy was charged with first degree murder and obtained an attorney.* Once the boy learned that he would be tried as an adult and face life in prison, he recanted his confession and explained that it was his father who actually shot the guest.* A polygraph confirmed the boys statement, the father was interrogated and confessed.* We have also experienced the opposite situation, where a parent has confessed to protect a son or daughter who was involved in criminal activity.

Low Intelligence / Youthful offenders

In the previous New Years eve killing, the boys father told him that because he was a teenager he would not go to prison.* It has been suggested that suspects who are young or have a low IQ may fail to understand the severity of consequences they face through their decision to confess.* Consider an analogous situation:* I believe most adults of average intelligence would pay the IRS a* $200 fine even though they contest the alleged error on their tax return; putting an end to the hassle, fear and frustration of dealing with the IRS is worth $200.* However, I doubt that the same taxpayer would be willing to spend even a day in jail as punishment for the contested error.

Suspects under the age of 16 who have had little contact with police, or suspects who have an IQ under 65 are statistically abundant in documented false confession cases.* Certainly a confession coming from this category of suspect should be carefully scrutinized to make certain that it was obtained in the absence of a promise of leniency and that the confession contains corroborative information that originated from the suspect. When investigators are dealing with these vulnerable suspects, caution should be exercised to make certain the interrogations are not too lengthy, intense or psychologically manipulative.

Coercion

Many innocent people will confess to a crime if they are subjected to sufficient pain or threats of harm (coercion). This concept is fundamental to common law and, within the judiciary, there is zero-tolerance when it comes to coercion.* For a confession to be admissible as evidence, it must be obtained without inflicting or threatening to inflict any physical harm to the suspect.*

While coercion specifically relates to the suspects physical well being, there is a related psychological circumstance which may have an even greater impact on false confessions. Consider* the following interrogation of an innocent mother in a case involving the death of her infant child.

Martha, the fact that you can't tell the truth about what you did to your child tells us you're an unfit mother.* You know what we do with unfit mothers?* We place their children in foster homes.* Your children will be placed in foster homes across the country and they will never see each other again and you will never see them.* That is what will happen if you don't confess to shaking your child.

When an innocent suspect is convinced that his denials will not prevent a prison sentence, loss of reputation, or loss of something else he values, in an effort to reduce or escape those inevitable consequences, certainly the suspect may be persuaded to confess.* Under this circumstance, because the suspect is still under the threat of the consequence, the confession may not be retracted until the suspect feels it is safe to do so 

Duress

The average innocent suspect can answer questions and fend off persuasive interrogation techniques for many hours without being tempted, in any way, to confess.* However, when the sessions become too lengthy, intense or unbearable, the innocent suspect may confess to terminate the conditions. Duress describes lengthy questioning, as well as deprivation of biological needs such as sleep, warmth or food.* Unlike coercion, duress is considered by the courts on a continuum, in which a number of different factors are considered.

A homicide confession obtained after a ten hour interrogation from a mentally competent adult suspect who has waived his Miranda rights may be considered by most courts as legally admissible.* However, a burglary confession obtained after a ten hours of interrogation of a 15-year-old suspect who did not have a parent or guardian present may be suppressed, partially as a result of duress.* When evaluating the trustworthiness of a confession, it is important to recognize that some suspects are more susceptible to persuasive interrogation techniques.

Mental Illness

Following a heinous crime, it is not uncommon for innocent individuals suffering from mental illness to come forward and confess.* Some of them are delusional and receive messages to confess.* Others have lost touch with reality and believe they committed the crime. Some confess to seek attention or recognition. Most of these cases involve voluntary confessions (obtained in the absence of interrogation) which are readily identified as false because the confession lacks accurate corroboration.*

This motivation presents a greater difficulty when the innocent suspect with a mental illness initially maintains his innocence, and confesses after interrogation.** Innocent suspects with anxiety disorders are more susceptible to duress than the average population. With some depressive disorders, the individual may rationalize a false confession by convincing themselves that they deserve to be punished for some real or imagined past transgression.

The latter group of suspects are aware that they did not commit the crime at the time of their confession.* These suspects were simply vulnerable to interrogation tactics that the mentally healthy suspect can easily resist.* Consequently, mental illness and cognitive functioning becomes an important factor when considering duress.

Faulty Memory

Finally, an innocent person may be persuaded to confess if he has no recollection of his activities at the time of the crime but is convinced, after learning of evidence of his guilt, that he must have committed the crime.* This is termed a coerced internalized false confession. There is generally a tangible cause for the suspects memory loss such as intoxication, head trauma, epilepsy or suffering from multiple personality disorder.

Once convinced of their guilt, these suspects may accept this as the truth, plead guilty in court and accept their prison sentence.* Through time, therapy or happenstance, this suspect may question his guilt.* But, as with the earlier suspect who confessed to obtain a warmer climate, he discovers that it is very difficult to undo a plea bargain.

Conclusion

Just because there are many possible motivations for innocent people to confess does not mean that most confessions are false.* To the contrary, the average criminal suspect is more than capable of resisting standard interrogation tactics and a great deal of effort is required to persuade these individuals to tell the truth.* But experience and scientific evidence proves that innocent suspects have confessed.* Furthermore, each of these false confessions satisfied a particular motivation.* Awareness of these motivations should assist investigators in selecting appropriate interrogation techniques for particular suspects and should also assist prosecutors and judges to identify confessions that may not be true.

With the above discussion in mind, the following represents some factors to consider in the assessment of the credibility of a suspects confession.* These issues are certainly not all inclusive, and each case must be evaluated on the totality of circumstances surrounding the interrogation and confession, but nevertheless, these are elements that should be given careful consideration 

1.      The suspects condition at the time of the interrogation

a.       Physical condition (including drug and/or alcohol intoxication)

b.      Mental capacity

c.       Psychological condition

2.      The suspects age

3.      The suspects prior experience with law enforcement

4.      The suspects understanding of the language

5.      The length of the interrogation

6.      The degree of detail provided by the suspect in his confession      *********

7.      The extent of corroboration between the confession and the crime

8.      The presence of witnesses to the interrogation and confession

9.      The suspects behavior during the interrogation

10.  The effort to address the suspects physical needs

11.  The presence of any improper interrogation techniques

Credit and Permission Statement: This Investigator Tip was developed by John E. Reid and Associates Inc. Permission is hereby granted to those who wish to share or copy the article. For additional 'tips' visit www.reid.com; select 'Educational Information' and 'Investigator Tip'. Inquiries regarding Investigator Tips should be directed to Janet Finnerty johnreid@htc.net. For more information regarding Reid seminars and training products, contact John E. Reid and Associates, Inc. at 800-255-5747 or www.reid.com.

10 Common Indicators for Highway Drug Interdiction by Andrew Hawkes

In today’s drug smuggling world, highway drug traffickers are constantly attempting to think of new an innovative ways to conceal their contraband from law enforcement. Little do they realize that the same methods they come up with have been being used for decades by their predecessors. Through thousands of narcotic interdiction arrests by skilled interdiction officers all over the country, we have learned many of these traits and characteristics. Below, I have outlined ten popular techniques that highway drug traffickers attempt to use in hopes that they will successfully get their dope to their destination. By familiarizing yourself with some of these tips, you too can increase your interdiction success. Keep in mind you must always have probable cause to stop a vehicle.
1.     MASKING ODORS.
We have all heard of highway drug smugglers attempting to use large amounts of air fresheners in their vehicles. Not only can you look at for the famous “Christmas Tree” air fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror and other places in the vehicle, but you can also be aware of several other tactics that you may not have picked up on in the past. For example, do you notice several bottles of cologne or perfume in the car, and have they recently been sprayed prior or during your traffic stop of the vehicle? Is there a large bag of scented pipe tobacco, opened, laying in the vehicle but you notice the driver is smoking a cigarette? Or maybe you find it odd that as soon as you stop the car, the driver lights up a cigarette immediately, filling the car with smoke, but has no desire to roll down the windows? These are all examples of masking the odor on the surface of the stop. Masking odors placed directly onto packages of contraband can include animal urine, cayenne pepper, mustard, animal blood, oil and just about anything they feel may frighten off a drug canine or further mask the odor of contraband.
 
2.     LAW ENFORCEMENT STICKERS AND SLOGANS.
Most officers know that the “State troopers association” stickers you see on vehicle are mailed to random people and solicit money that often are not associated with any law enforcement entity. Most experienced officer’s will also come to determine that most cars they stop with these stickers do not belong to anyone in law enforcement. When you stop or see vehicle traveling across many states with an abundance of these stickers, be aware that they will often put these stickers all over their vehicles, thinking that we as officer’s will think they are “Officer Friendly”.
 
3.     RELIGIOUS PARAPHERNELIA
The same goes for religious bumper stickers, symbols and bibles strategically placed throughout the vehicle. I once recovered 80 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana placed under the carpet of the vehicle. The driver was traveling down the interstate with the biggest bible I have ever seen, lying open on the front dashboard of his rental car.
 
4.     RENTAL CAR AGREEMENTS/PAPERWORK.
It has been known for years that drug smugglers like to rent vehicles to transport drugs. There are many reasons for this. Often the simple fact is that there personal cars are old and not as dependable as a new rental car. Other reasons include avoiding seizure of their personal vehicles in the event they are caught and arrested. Whatever the reason, the rental agreement paper work can offer several indicators to the investigating officer that could end up instrumental in establishing reasonable suspicion. Questions to ask yourself when inspecting this paperwork are:
a. Is the driver of the car listed on the rental agreement?
b. If not, is the person listed on the rental agreement even in the vehicle?
c. Can the driver give you specific details as to who is on the rental agreement and his relationship to this person?
d. Does the name listed on the rental agreement show to have a criminal history?
e. What city and state was the rental car rented in and what distance is that from where you have the vehicle stopped?
f. What day and time was the rental car rented and how much time has lapsed since then?
g. What was the mileage listed when the car was rented and how far has it traveled since then? Is the mileage traveled consistent with the occupants’ story as to where they have traveled?
Another great tool to use with rental cars can be to contact the rental agency, identify yourself and explain to them that you have one of their vehicle pulled over, several states away from where it was rented, explain that the renter of the car is not in the vehicle and possible that the people in the vehicle may not even know the person that rented the car. Often times they will ask you to impound the car for them so they can pick it up. This gives you, the officer the opportunity to inventory the contents of the vehicle, thus discovering any contraband.
 
5.     SPECIFIC TOOLS USED TO ACCESS WHERE THE DOPE IS HIDDEN.
Many dope smugglers will go to great lengths to conceal their contraband. What is so funny to the experienced interdiction officer is that they leave obvious tools needed to retrieve the contraband in the silliest of places. I can’t recall the last time I stopped an honest citizen carrying a brand new floor jack and a special tire tool in the front seat of a new Lincoln town car. I can however, recall stopping a drug smuggler, with those tools on the front seat of a new Lincoln that had 160 pounds of marijuana concealed in all four tires of the vehicle! Look for out of place items that don’t fit the rest of the surroundings.
 
6.     MORE THAN ONE CELL PHONE.
Often a drug smuggler will carry multiple cell phones, that all seem to be ringing at once. The smuggler may have a personal cell phone, as well as a cell phone given to him from the origin of the load, a cell phone from the contact near the destination and numerous other middlemen involved in the drug transaction so that they can all keep tabs on the location. Look for this as a possible indicator and question the suspect in detail as to why he has all these phones and use their answers to build reasonable suspicion.
 
7.     CONFLICTING STORIES.
A popular subject to that has been taught in interdiction is the “conflicting stories” that passengers give as to the purpose and destination of their interstate travel. Developing these conflicting stories is paramount in your investigation. By getting the suspect’s to give your intricate details that totally contradict each other not only is an indicator, but a great tool in reasonable suspicion.
 
8.     THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
This is another post stop indicator that can be a sign of dope trafficking. In this case, the subject is trying to distance himself from something he wants to hide from you. Keep in mind, this indicator can be a sign of something less sinister than drug trafficking, e.g. the subject might be have a weapon in the car, an open beer, etc.. Either way, there is something in the car he is hiding. Just as a side note, if you ask the subject if you can search the car, and he consents but tries to draw you away from where he doesn’t want you to look, then you know the contraband is in a different location than the one they want you to look in. Dead giveaway indicator.
 
9.     Cars that drive under the speed limit – here is a very easy pre-stop indicator you can start using immediately. Drug traffickers are naturally paranoid and their paranoia will make them do stupid things like drive 10 – 15 miles under the speed limit. drug haulers generally will stay in the “slow lane” as well.
 
10.  OLDER MODEL CARS THAT ARE IN UNUSUALLY GOOD CONDITION. Often older cars will be used to transport drug loads, however, what sets them apart is that they have been very well maintained mechanically, often have new tires on them and have been washed and cleaned to help blend in with the average citizen’s vehicle.
Keep in mind as you go through this list, an indicator by itself is not enough to be a sign of drug trafficking. However, by observing multiple indicators then you can greatly increase your chances of finding the mother load. I talk more about indicators and reasonable suspicion in my book, Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction. As always, stay safe and happy hunting.
Sergeant Andrew Hawkes is a 17 year law enforcement veteran. He began working Highway Drug Interdiction full time in 1993.  Sgt. Hawkes has won many awards in Texas for his interdiction success.  He has been an interdiction instructor for police departments, area police academies and for the U.S. DEA basic narcotic investigator's school.  Sgt. Hawkes has completed graduate courses in Public Administration and holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Dallas Baptist University.  Sgt. Hawkes latest publication, Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction is a "how to" book for the street officer wishing to develop drug interdiction skills without all the complicated police jargon and terminology that goes with a lengthy and expensive training class.  Sgt. Hawkes has been featured in The Dallas Morning News, TNOA Narcotic Officer's Quarterly, many area newspapers and law enforcement websites. You can visit his website at www.highwaydruginterdiction.com
 

A Case for Creating and/or Enhancing Drug Interdiction Units by Bill Woessner

Today criminal organizations are sophisticated enterprises that operate on a global scale. These organizations are increasingly difficult for law enforcement to identify and penetrate. One area of vulnerability for these organizations is the transportation centers they must use along with everyone else. Trained law enforcement officers have developed methods over the past four decades to detect criminal activity occurring in transportation centers and employed these methods to interdict individuals traveling through these hubs.

Interdiction is a means of narrowing the field of possible suspects from the thousands of legitimate traveling passengers to those few who are most likely involved in criminal activity. Many trained law enforcement officers currently work in interdiction units at various transportation centers in the U.S. and throughout the world. These units need to be expanded, or created where they do not currently exist, because the interdiction units are not only effective in targeting criminal elements, but have been a very effective tool in identifying and stopping terrorist activity.


History of Drug Interdiction

Beginning in the early 1970's, DEA agents, along with state and local police officers working in Detroit and Los Angeles, determined that a number of investigations involved individuals transporting heroin from Los Angeles to Detroit via commercial aircraft. The officers began monitoring those airports and noticed that the drug couriers displayed discernable methods and characteristics. Those characteristics or “indicators” proved to be useful tools that could be utilized by law enforcement officers to identify drug couriers. It was during the transportation of commodities and personnel that the traffickers became vulnerable to detection by alert law enforcement officials trained in the proven methods of drug interdiction. In the mid-1980's, reacting to the change in distribution patterns of the drug trafficking organizations, airport interdiction units expanded to include bus terminals, train stations, commercial package and freight shipping facilities. In the 1990’s the interdiction concept was shared with law enforcement organizations in countries throughout the world. Today, numerous countries have active interdiction units or teams. While interdiction units were created to address the movement of drugs and money by drug trafficking organizations, it was discovered that using particularized characteristics to identify traffickers in specific cities also identified individuals involved in other types of criminal activity. In addition to arresting drug couriers and seizing currency from drug trafficking organizations, interdiction units also arrested individuals with arrest warrants for crimes including murder, financial crimes, credit card fraud, and other felony offenses, including those related to terrorism. For example, in 1993, members of the DEA Greensboro, NC interdiction unit identified an individual traveling on a bus through Greensboro who, when ultimately detained, was identified as Abdel-llah Elmardoudi (Hakim, 2002). Elmardoudi was wanted by the FBI for terrorist-related activities in Detroit, MI (Hakim, 2002).

Transportation Center Screening Methods

There have been no published studies in the United States on the effectiveness of employing specifically identified characteristics to recognize and approach potential criminal suspects in a transportation location. Notably, the British law enforcement community received interdiction-style training from U.S. counterparts and began utilizing characteristics that were cited as unusual relative to traffickers in the British Islands (Buck, 2010).

The British subsequently conducted a study of the effectiveness of using characteristics displayed in prior investigations to identify potential criminal activity. They compared cases involving the use of interdiction techniques to those cases where only standard security screening measures were employed. Standard security screening methods are currently in use throughout the world today by dedicated security organizations, such as the British Airport Authority and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States.

Standard security screening methods include x-ray of carry-on luggage, employment of magnetometers on traveling passengers, random spectrometer examination of carry-on bags for explosive materials and random hand searches of individuals. The standard security screening methods could be described as mass screening. The British Study, which was conducted by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), revealed that application of the known unusual or criminal characteristics by trained personnel was six times more effective in identifying passengers involved in criminal activity than relying on the current mass screening process (Buck, 2010).
The purpose of screening, especially in an airport, is entirely for the safety and security of the traveling public. However, while these screening methods can be effective as a deterrent to criminal activity, they are not intended to identify and arrest criminal elements traveling through transportation centers. It falls on active law enforcement interdiction teams to conduct investigations and pursue criminals in the transportation hubs.
Though it is not the duty of screening personnel to identify and arrest criminals, it is incumbent upon them to identify those individuals, especially terrorist organization directed persons, set on circumventing security and attacking individuals, especially relative to air travel.

Screening Methods to Combat Terrorism

Attempts to destroy airplanes and kill all passengers onboard are an ever present concern for security screening in the world’s airports. In the U.S., the TSA has responded to these threats through enhanced mass screening techniques that have been developed relative to specific attempts or threats. Several of these enhancements include:

(A) The removal of shoes for x-ray, which is in response to the attempt by Richard Reid to ignite his explosive laden sneakers on an airplane in flight from London to Detroit (BBC News, 2001).

(B) The deployment of low emissions x-ray machines that can scan an individual’s body and reveal items concealed underneath clothing, like the attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who had the explosives concealed within his underpants on a flight inbound from Amsterdam to Detroit (BBC News, 2002).

Al Qaeda has adapted to TSA’s enhanced screening methods by employing drug traffickers smuggling methods such as the insertion of drugs in a body cavity. A prime example of how Al Qaeda is adapting to tighter security is the recent assassination attempt of Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef by Abdullah Asieri where Aseiri inserted a pound of high explosives and a detonator up his rectum and managed to pass through two sets of airport security, including metal detectors and palace security (MacVicar, 2009). He then waited 30 hours before meeting Prince Nayef and detonating the explosives (MacVicar, 2009). The use of a low emission x-ray might have detected this suicide bomber and possibly prevented the attack. Of considerable concern is a potential method of transporting explosives that would be undetectable by the commonly utilized technological detection methods.

While explosives are the primary concern for security in airports, they are not the only threat that requires detection. In July 2010, Housrou Kediji was arrested at the Bush Intercontinental Airport as he was attempting to board a flight to France. Kediji had ingested 85 condoms containing cocaine that weighed approximately 2.2 pounds (Schiller 2010). In December 2010, Uemduen Sophawat was arrested in Bali, Indonesia upon her arrival from Bangkok, Thailand. Sophawat had ingested 1280 ecstasy pills weighing approximately 402 grams (BNO News, 2010). These are but a few instances of drug couriers ingesting drugs and transporting them aboard airlines.

The DEA has encountered numerous Iranian couriers that had ingested crystal methamphetamine and were arrested at the Bangkok International Airport upon arrival from the United Arab Emirates as well as numerous other countries (Ngamkham, 2010). A number of these Iranian couriers had ingested several latex incased AAA batteries along with the crystal methamphetamine. Upon being interviewed subsequent to their arrests, none of the Iranian couriers knew nor could explain why they had been asked to ingest the batteries along with the drugs. Many DEA investigations have revealed that numerous drug trafficking organizations have and are still using couriers to ingest drugs and money and travel through airports throughout the world for delivery to local distribution organizations.

Terrorist organizations could easily recruit individuals that are willing to ingest explosives, up to a kilograms worth, which could be passed on an airplane and then detonated via a device that was also ingested or even inserted anally. Based on Al Qaeda’s assassination attempt by making use of an individual who inserted explosives up his rectum, it is highly likely they are aware and possibly planning utilization of individuals to board airplanes after ingesting explosives. To the author’s knowledge, there is currently no effective security method routinely employed that would identify couriers that ingest illicit items, including the use of low emission x-ray. Perhaps the only sure way to identify an individual, who has ingested drugs or other illegal items, excluding their personal admission, is through standard or digital x-ray of the stomach and intestinal areas. However, the problem lies in identifying those individuals who should be subjected to the x-ray as it is a time consuming and invasive procedure. The current security model of mass screening will most likely not identify individuals who have ingested dangerous or illegal items. Since the current method to detect if an individual has ingested drugs is through x-ray of an individual’s internal organs, and TSA’s current application of the low emission x-ray has proven controversial (Nader, 2010), there is conceivably no way to perform a large number of the more invasive internal x-ray’s on the traveling public. Therefore, it is needed to narrow the field and identify those individuals most likely involved in criminal activity by identifying specific trafficker characteristics or indicators.

Identifying discernable criminal characteristics or indicators along with interviewing, to minimize the number of persons who might require a more intensive search including an internal x-ray may be one way to overcome the current screening obstacles. Additionally, articulation of the precise indicators of criminal activity will permit law enforcement officers to take appropriate investigative steps that are legally authorized, such as a temporary detention or x-ray. Criminal characteristics identified by law enforcement personnel in particular venues and types of investigations can be an effective law enforcement tool in locating and arresting criminal elements utilizing many nations’ transportation hubs. Our best line of defense against criminal activity including terrorism is three fold. First, interdiction units need to be put into place at all major transportation centers, staff them with law enforcement officers who demonstrate the ability to work effectively in that type of environment, and then provide those officers with proper training. Second, personnel need to be identified who work in the transportation environment and who demonstrate the ability to recognize circumstances that are unusual or out of the ordinary. Once identified, those personnel will need to be trained to assist in locating and identifying potential criminal suspects. Finally, flight attendants need enhanced training in recognizing potential terrorist activity by passengers aboard the airplane, specifically relative to individuals who ingest dangerous items. The threat of terrorist activity at our transportation centers is ever present, and criminal organizations will continue to use transportation hubs to conduct their illicit activities. The best method we have for combating the threat of terrorism is the creation of interdiction units. These units can train transportation hub personnel to watch for specific characteristics that are unusual or out of the ordinary and then immediately contact law enforcement who would initiate an investigation.  

REFERENCES

BBC News. (2001, December). Who is Richard Reid. BBC News Internet. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1731568.stm

BBC News. (2010, October). Profile: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. BBC News Internet. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from http:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11545509

BNO News. (2010, December). Thai Smuggler caught in Indonesia after Swallowing 1,200 Ecstasy Pills. Thaindian News Internet. Retrieved January 30, 2011, from www.thaindian.com/.../thai-smuggler-caught-in-indonesia-after-swallowing-1200-ecstasy-pills_100476923.html

Buck, Gary. (2010, May). Validation of PASS Program. Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). United Kingdom.

Hakim, Danny. (2002, November). Threats and Responses, the “Sleeper” Suspects; Man Accused of Being Leader of Detroit Terror Cell is Arrested. New York Times Archival Information. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from http://ww.nytimes.com/.../threats-responses-sleeper-suspects-man-accused-being-leader-detroit-terror-cell.html

MacVicar, Shiela. (2009, September). Al Qaeda Bombers Learn from Drug Smugglers. MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from http://www.cbsnews.com/.../main5347847.html

Schiller,Dane. (2010, July). Trafficking suspect held. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 30, 2011, from http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/7125994.html

Nader, Ralph. (2010, November). TSA is delivering naked insecurity. USA Today. Retrieved February 24, 2011, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/ralphnader/tsadeliveringnakedinsecurity.html

Ngamkham, Wassayos. (2010, December). Iranians top police watch list for possible drug traffickers. Bangkok Post Chronicle. Retrieved February 25, 2011, from http://www.bangkokpost.com/iranians-top-watch-list-for-possible-drug-traffickers.html
 
George “Bill” Woessner (email: gww2354@yahoo.com)

The author began his career in 1984, as a Special Agent with the DEA, working interdiction at the Los Angeles International Airport. He has been involved in criminal interdiction for over 26 years and not only provided interdiction training in the U.S. but also in countries throughout the world. Throughout his career, the author has traveled to over 50 countries and worked with those country’s law enforcement personnel in a training environment. The past three years, the author initiated a standardized DEA international interdiction training program and has conducted interdiction training in various countries, including Jordan, Israel, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, England, El Salvador, and Bulgaria to list a few. This interdiction training relies on utilizing courier characteristics and interviewing to identify those passengers most likely involved in criminal activity. Based on the author’s extensive involvement in both working and teaching interdiction with countries throughout the world, he has developed an expertise relative to methodology and trends related to criminal organizations, utilizing interdiction hubs to facilitate illegal activities.