Law: Judging A Book by Its Cover

Drug-courier profiles get a favorable nod from the court

When Andrew Sokolow approached a United Airlines counter in Hawaii five years ago to begin a flight to Miami, he aroused immediate suspicion. First he looked and acted nervous. Then he plunked down $2,100 from a bulging wad of $20 bills to buy round-trip tickets for himself and a companion. He and his friend did not check their luggage but chose to carry it on board. And, as investigators discovered, Sokolow used an assumed name and stayed in Miami only 48 hours. In short, his actions matched those in the behavior profiles used by the Drug Enforcement Administration to spot would-be...

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