The mission? Stop narcotics before they hit island streets. The strategy? Target the traffickers using the mail.

And for the last four years, the Guam Interdictions and Anti-Narcotics Trafficking task force, better known as GIANT, has delivered major results.

“Postal inspectors are federal law enforcement agents with jurisdiction over the postal service, we've been working with our local partners for quite some time,and we had the opportunity in 2021, to formalize  a federal task force,” said Stephen Sherwood, the inspector-in-charge  for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for the San Francisco Division which covers Guam. 

“For us any seizure or any arrest is significant because those keep the dangerous drugs out of the community,” added Sherwood. 

The stats are staggering.

Over 780 pounds of drugs taken off the streets. More than 600 pounds of meth intercepted. 29 arrests and over $550,000 in suspected drug proceeds seized.

The task force brings together the U.S. Postal Inspection service with local agencies like Guam Customs, Guam Police, and the Army National Guard’s Counter Drug program, deputizing officers to work mail-related investigations.

“No one agency has the resources to really address all of the issues around narcotics trafficking. The incorporation of the local agencies really helps us understand the local communities and provides that agency's talent and resources to help us address the problem as well,” added Sherwood. 

Officials stress that Guam isn’t just a transit point, it’s home. That’s why collaboration remains key, especially with narcotics traffickers exploiting every shipping method they can.

If you know of any drug shipments coming through the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection service at 877-876-2455 or online at uspis.gov, rewards of up to $100,000 are available.

“We want to celebrate our successes but we also want to remain very focused and very intentional,’” he said. “We take drugs very seriously and we want to make sure we provide as many resources as possible to combat any type of drug trafficking that's in the mail.”