2000 Counterdrug Research and Development Blueprint Update

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	120
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.

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