In a new report, RaySecur has revealed that letters and small parcels, not large packages, make up the vast majority of mail threats.

The company’s Annual State of Mail Security Report also found that these threats are becoming increasingly dangerous and toxic.

Constructed from open-source mail threat data compiled by the US government, international findings from the 2023 Global Terrorism Index and the RaySecur Threat Data Center (TDC), the annual report says that nine out of ten mail threats and security incidents were items that were small enough to fit in an anonymous curbside drop box.

Additionally, less than 2% of mail threats lead to an arrest. 

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) threats

According to the company:

• 94% of physical mail-based injuries came from letters
• White powder threats are becoming increasingly common with 59% of threats containing powders, of which 26% were determined to be drugs including fentanyl
• Local, state and federal government facilities receive the most mail-based threats (32%), while residences are the second most frequently targeted (28%), followed by businesses (12%)

“No industry is immune from mail-based threats,” said Alex Sappok, PhD, CEO of RaySecur.

“Detecting extremely small qualities of highly toxic substances like fentanyl is a critical and evolving challenge facing security professionals.

“Previously white powder threats were mostly benign hoaxes.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen fentanyl and other harmful powders used in threats targeting government agencies and the private sector.”

Contraband smuggling

RaySecur’s annual report also examined the state of physical mail threats coming into correctional facilities.

Key findings include:

• 55% of contraband is drug-treated paper, which may not be visible to the human eye, making controlling drug use within these facilities a significant challenge
• There has been a 600% rise in drug overdoses in prisons compared to previously available data
• 65% of the US prison population has an active substance use disorder, while another 20% were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime

RaySecur highlights that legal mail has become a primary avenue for smuggling drug-laced papers, as it is constitutionally protected and can not be digitized.

Aside from mail, drug-laced papers enter facilities not only through the mailroom but also through visitors, including attorneys and papers passed in court, posing a significant risk to both correctional staff and those in their care.

There is also an emerging trend of these fraudulent legal papers being treated with household chemicals such as bug spray and formaldehyde, which are not detected by conventional drug testing methods.