Opinion ID: 268598
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Illegal Importation and Constructive Possession

Text: 20 Bolland and Bruchon both attack the sufficiency of the proof with respect to their alleged illegal importation and constructive possession of the narcotics, contending that the Canadian and later the United States law enforcement officers as a matter of fact and of law had actual control of the bags originally containing the 62 kilograms of heroin from the time of their initial interception in Canada and continuing through their removal from and replacement in the parcel room of New York's Pennsylvania Station. 21 This argument we find without merit. When articles are moving in transit, under the arrangements of criminal conspirators, law enforcement agencies should not be denied the opportunity of allowing some part of the contraband to continue in movement for the purpose of snaring and acquiring evidence against all those implicated in the particular plan. In this case, Arizti, and not the federal agents, transported the heroin into this country. And so long as the movement continued, which it did, and control, however temporary, was possible in both Bolland and Bruchon, who at one time or another possessed the claim checks and the baggage keys, sufficient dominion to establish constructive possession was present with respect to each. Whether the agents would have been successful in halting the asportation from Pennsylvania Station, had the claim check holder taken the bags from the parcel room, is immaterial. 22 Both Bolland and Bruchon, at one time or another, had actual possession of the baggage checks and keys. Arizti testified that upon his arrival in New York, he immediately met with Bolland in his room at the Elysee and turned over the baggage checks and keys to Bolland. Apart from that testimony, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude from the fact that Bruchon had the keys and checks shortly before he was apprehended that he had received them from Bolland since Government surveillance revealed that Bolland was the only person he had seen at the Americana who could have given them to him. 23 Here, Bolland's and Bruchon's actual possession of the keys and checks was sufficient to establish constructive possession of the bags of heroin. Constructive possession is that which exists without personal occupation of land or without actual personal present dominion over a chattel, but with intent and capability to maintain control and dominion. Rodella v. United States, 286 F.2d 306, 311 (9 Cir. 1960), cert. den. 365 U.S. 889, 81 S.Ct. 1042, 6 L.Ed.2d 199 (1961). Possession may, but need not, imply title. See also United States v. Santore, 290 F.2d 51, 60-61 (2 Cir.), rehearing en banc, 290 F.2d 74 (1960), cert. den. 365 U.S. 834, 81 S.Ct. 745, 5 L.Ed.2d 743 (1961); Covarrubias v. United States, 290 F.2d 157, 158 (9 Cir.), cert. den. 368 U.S. 859, 82 S.Ct. 101, 7 L.Ed.2d 56 (1961); United States v. Buonanno, 290 F.2d 585, 586 (2 Cir. 1961); Teasley v. United States, 292 F.2d 460, 467-468 (9 Cir. 1961); Ramirez v. United States, 294 F.2d 277, 283 (9 Cir. 1961); United States v. Ladson, 294 F.2d 535, 540-541 (2 Cir. 1961), cert. den. 369 U.S. 824, 82 S.Ct. 840, 7 L.Ed.2d 789 (1962); Hernandez v. United States, 300 F.2d 114, 116-117 (9 Cir. 1962). And circumstantial evidence alone may be utilized to determine the fact of possession. Rodella v. United States, supra. Aside from the appellants' possession of the baggage checks and keys, there was also present here strong circumstantial evidence of actual knowledge of illegal importation. 24 The fact that the Government obtained a search warrant within just two hours after the bags arrived in New York City did not interfere with Bolland's and Bruchon's constructive possession of the narcotics after that time. A search warrant is required only to prevent an unreasonable and, therefore, illegal search and seizure, and it does not require that the law enforcement officers take instant possession of any contraband that they might thereby discover. To require immediate seizure of the contraband upon discovery would deprive federal officers of a most effective method of obtaining evidence against ultimate consignees   . United States v. Davis, 272 F.2d 149, 153 (7 Cir. 1959). Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires only that the return be prompt and that, in any case, the return be within 10 days of the warrant. We find here no violation of either the terms or spirit of the rule. 25