Scientology Search and Seizure Investigations (US Customs Service)

R. M. Seibert filed this request with the United States Customs and Border Protection of the United States of America.
Submitted Feb. 27, 2015
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn
Tags

Communications

From: R. M. Seibert

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records that would have been created and maintained by the original United States Customs Service (as a branch of the US Treasury Department) during the period of 1958 through 1982:

All releasable files pertaining to searches, seizures, detained imports and/or investigations related to the Hubbard Electrometer (or "E-meter") devices, publications, documents, and guns being brought into the country by Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (aka L. Ron Hubbard) as well as members, clergy, employees or representatives of the following organizations that he founded:

Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation
Founding Church of Scientology
Hubbard Association of Scientologists International
Church of Scientology of California
The Distribution Center, Inc.

Proof of death on L. Ron Hubbard is not required as his passing was widely reported: http://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/29/obituaries/l-ron-hubbard-dies-of-stroke-founder-of-church-of-scientology.html

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest due to a recent FDA FOIA disclosure (FOIPA No. 2015-158) of investigation files from the 1960s that includes references to E-meters being detained by Customs Service agents. In addition, media coverage of unrelated seizures by the Customs Service of Scientology documents and guns that factored into other government investigations.

All of these circumstances are in the public interest for better understanding of how multi-agency government investigations historically functioned since it eventually led to the Customs Services being aggressively targeted in Scientology litigation spanning more than a decade. Those lawsuits established widely cited case precedents for FOIA exemptions and legal seizure of imported goods. The court-related losses Scientology incurred then led to the Customs Service being targeted in "Operation Snow White" in the 1970s; the world's largest covert infiltration of government agencies and private organizations by the Church of Scientology that was widely reported: http://bit.ly/1LR8jVU

Additionally, the requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not being made for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Ms. R. M. Seibert

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 27, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: MuckRock

Subject: None

None

Please acknowledge this FOIA request, copied as the original communication below, and provide an appropriate tracking number.

Thank you.

From: MuckRock

Subject: MR#16408-228939 - RE: Freedom of Information Request: Scientology Search and Seizure Investigations (US Customs Service)

Fax

Please acknowledge this FOIA request, copied as the original communication below, and provide an appropriate tracking number.

Thank you.

Files

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