General Counterdrug Intelligence Plan

Appendix D – Annual Report on the Development and Deployment of Narcotics Detection Technologies by Federal Agencies



Introduction

This appendix has been prepared to satisfy the reporting requirement for an annual report on development and deployment of narcotics detection technologies included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1998 (P.L. 105-85). The statute is cited in Appendix A, Applicable Legislation, to the Blueprint Update. The report includes two sections on narcotics detection technology: a section on technologies under development, and a section on systems deployed or available for deployment.

Narcotics Detection Technologies Under Development

Table D-1 provides those reporting items specified for narcotics detection technologies under development or recently completed.

Table D-1. NARCOTICS DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES UNDER DEVELOPMENT OR RECENTLY COMPLETED

Agency Project Title/Short Description FY 97 ($K) FY 98 ($K) FY 99 ($K) FY 00 ($K)
US Customs Service Rail Gamma Prototype – Develop a prototype gamma ray imaging system to detect contraband in rail cars Prototype due 3Q FY00 0 442
(CTAC)		 395 250
US Customs Service Mobile Truck X-ray – Development of a "low under-carriage" mobile truck X-ray system Prototype delivered 3QFY00 100 1,700 0 0
US Customs Service Potassium (K-40) Detector – Support to Revenue Canada for a joint Potassium-40 detection system for marijuana and tobacco products Prototype deployed on SW border 0 144 0 0
US Customs Service Piezoelectric Resonance Detector – Investigation of the piezoelectric resonance characteristics of cocaine hydrochloride Project discontinued. 30 25 0 0
US Customs Service SAW Immunoassay – proof-of-concept demonstration of a surface acoustic wave filter to a biological immunoassay tag to identify cocaine vapors 2QFY01 25 50 175
(CTAC) 		50
US Customs Service Forced Air Canine Sampling – Development and evaluation of application of canines to sea and land cargo containers through positive air expulsion Deployed 0 25 20 0
US Customs Service Currency Training Aids For Canines – Development of improved training aids for canines in the currency detection program Under Development 2QFY01 0 90 10 20
US Customs Service Evaluation of Trace Detection Systems - Support for the test and field evaluation of several IMS trace detection systems Ongoing 250 0 25 25
US Customs Service Non-intrusive techniques to detect the presence of swallowed narcotics in high risk smuggling suspects New Start 0 0 0 200
FAA / DoD/ Customs Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis - to evaluate the PFNA prototype system at Ysleta (El Paso) TX in conjunction with DoD and Customs. Applications focus on both counter-terrorism and counterdrug missions. (Prior funding under DoD appropriations was about $40 million)
Begin Evaluation 4QFY00
Completion 2QFY01		 0 2,700
(DoD) 		2,500
(FAA)
650 		5,000
estimate
US Coast Guard Boarding and Search Equipment – Analyze new technology applications, methods and procedures in support of improved vessel searches. Completion 4QFY00 200 200 200 0
US Coast Guard Vessel Search via Low Energy Imaging Techniques – Ultrasonic – Using low energy interrogation technologies and techniques such as ultrasonics, develop a prototype imaging device and evaluate its potential as a tool for searching vessel tanks ($175K prior to FY97) Completion 4QFY00 0 175 225
50
(CTAC)		 0
US Coast Guard Support Narcotic Detection Technology Assessment Team Activities – The USCG R&D Center participates in and supports the CTAC NDTA T&E studies of illicit substance detection devices in laboratory, simulated field, and real field operational conditions Completion: 1QFY00 0 100 0 0
US Coast Guard Shelf Technology Program – Assess emerging off-the-shelf technology and new contraband detection equipment for use by boarding teams. Completion 1QFY99 75 75 0 0
Department of Defense Enhanced Canines – enhance drug detection by canines through understanding, evaluating, and applying performance limitations and variables that decrease performance. Completed 400 0 0 0
Department of Defense Mobile System Testing and Integration – Test and demonstrate individual and multiple systems at testbeds and ports-of-entry. Successful systems will continue to be integrated with Customs/FAA activities involving stream of commerce inspections.
FY98/99: Completed demonstrations of individual system, conduct port-of-entry modeling, and completed test plan for controlled performance assessments and integrated field demonstrations involving air and sea cargo streams of commerce. 		1300 1400 1000 500
Department of Defense Small Package Inspection - Conduct evaluations on several commercially available state-of-the-art, small package X-ray systems for use in detecting illegal drugs and contraband. FY98: Completed. 50 25 0 0
Department of Defense Automated Screening Equipment and Systems (Demand Reduction) – Development of an automated sampling system and specimen container to reduce cost and enhance military drug testing capability.
FY99/00: Complete development of system/specimen container prototype and testing at a DoD test site. 		650 675 635 0
Department of Defense Mobile Detection System – Development of next generation mobile non-intrusive inspection systems. Investigate backscatter and transmission imaging techniques for rapidly inspecting cars and trucks. Includes development of mobile X-ray, pallet X-ray, gamma ray transportable system for inspecting cars and trucks, and high energy X-ray system for inspecting maritime containers.
FY98/99/00: Completed prototype development of transmission capable mobile truck X-ray; completed development of the gamma-ray system; and with USCS complete the development of the maritime container X-ray and large pallet X-ray prototypes. 		3200 2200 0 0
Department of Defense Portable Inspection System – Lightweight portable system for use by maritime boarding parties to search for hidden compartments that may be used to conceal drugs. FY97/98/99: Completed analysis and initiate development of a prototype system. 0 270 250 750
Dept of Agriculture Narcotics crop plant identification and chemistry Ongoing 398 398 0 0
Dept of Agriculture Cannabis detection in concealed areas not accessible to remote, aerial sensors Ongoing 275 275 0 0
CTAC Drug Phenomenology Research – analytical evaluations to compare technical system performance using accurate measures of effectiveness and scientific comparison criteria Ongoing 250 225 50 0
CTAC Narcotics Detection Technology Assessments – continue supporting the Narcotic Detection Technology Assessment program led by U.S. Customs Service. Ongoing 1,805 3,905 50 150
CTAC Southwest Border Technology and Infrastructure Study – determine the optimum mix of advanced technologies to interdict drugs along the southwest border Completed in FY99 0 735 0 0
CTAC Coded Aperture Fast Neutron Analysis – to develop an advanced means of signal processing for neutron interrogation Completion: 2QFY01 0 400 364 0
CTAC Neutron Probe – to develop a transportable neutron-based probe to inspect commodities for concealed illicit drugs. Completion: 4QFY00 0 300 297 100
CTAC Detector Dog Breeding Program – to establish a drug detection dog breeding strategy and center in the U.S. based upon quantitative genetic principles proven by Australian Customs. Leads to a world-wide canine gene pool. Completion: 3QFY00 0 100 100 100
CTAC Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (SERRS) – to extend the use of current SERRS technology being used for explosives detection to applications to detect illicit drugs. Completion: 2QFY01 0 0 120 200
CTAC Raman Spectrometry Drug Analyzer – to use a new infrared Raman spectroscopy method to detect drugs in solid mixtures. Completion: 4QFY00 0 0 0 250
CTAC IMS Proton Activity – Laser Induced. Develop means to selectively detect and identify drug vapors using two complementary ionization techniques and IMS detectors. Prototype demonstration: 3QFY01 0 0 0 250
CTAC CTEC Support – continue support to community test and evaluation center Ongoing 0 0 50 50

Systems Deployed or Available for Deployment

The following systems have been developed under DoD sponsorship and are ready or undergoing transition to U.S. Customs Service for deployment.

Fixed Site Truck X-ray

This X-ray systems uses 450 KeV transmission and side/ backscatter X-ray imagery to inspect empty or partially loaded trailer trucks and trailer-mounted cargo containers, for illicit drugs, currency and other contraband. The USCS has installed eight of these systems along the Southwest border.

Mobile Truck X-ray

The mobile X-ray system can be rapidly redeployed at different border crossings. The system is self-contained in a truck, and uses a 450 KeV X-ray source. Initial system capability provided only backscatter images of trucks and cars. Enhanced capabilities have been developed and successfully demonstrated which provide both backscatter and transmission images, and expanded X-ray beam scan angles. The USCS has deployed three systems and is in the process of acquiring additional systems for use at other ports of entry in Texas, Arizona, and California.

Gamma Ray Imager

The gamma ray imager uses a medium energy gamma ray source (Cesium-137 or Cobalt -60) to generate X-ray type transmission images of trucks and cars. It can be rapidly deployed among different sites. The developmental system has been deployed to Florida and New Mexico, where it has been successfully demonstrated in multiple applications. The USCS has deployed four of the fixed systems with an additional nine systems on order. One additional system to be configured in mobile mode has been placed on order.

Marine Container X-ray System

This system will provide for dockside inspection of large intermodal (sea/land) cargo containers. It is mounted in a modified self-propelled container transporter. It uses a two setting (2 MeV or 6 MeV) linear accelerator to generate transmission X-ray images. Demonstration and evaluation testing is scheduled to be completed in CY00.

Small Pallet X-ray System

This is a relocatable fixed site X-ray system designed to rapidly inspect small warehouse cargo pallets up to 5ft high by 5 ft wide, weighing up to 3000 lbs. It uses as its source a 320 KeV X-ray tube, and generates both transmission and backscatter images. The prototype system is currently being evaluated at the Port of Philadelphia.

Large Pallet X-ray System

This system can accommodate pallets and air cargo containers up to 8 ft high and 8.5 ft wide. It has been designed to use a special 1 MeV nested high voltage X-ray source, and is capable of generating both transmission and backscatter images.

Image Enhancement Algorithms

Complementing the imaging system developments, image enhancement algorithms to automatically search the imagery and highlight suspected contraband for detailed examination by the image analyst are being investigated.

Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometer

A prototype handheld ion mobility spectrometer has been developed and demonstrated. The system weighs eight pounds, including batteries sufficient for a one-hour mission. Sensitivity is in the one hundred picogram range. The design features include a high-efficiency atmospheric sampling system with more turbulent flow, and improved trap geometry resulting in an improved ion collection efficiency, automatic calibration, and self-diagnosis. Approximately 40 units have been deployed for multi-threat use.

Canine Substance Detection

The objective of this project is to analyze factors that contribute to the effectiveness of substance detection canines, and to provide procedures and techniques to improve detection capabilities and establish documented standards of reference/calibration. Results are available to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the results could augment the development of artificial biosensors for drug detection.