NCJ Number
143395
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
To examine general developments in counterdrug technology, with specific emphasis on cargo container inspections, the U.S. General Accounting Office evaluated plans formulated to guide these efforts and assessed the status of plan implementation.
Abstract
Three technologies related to the President's National Drug Control Strategy were identified: a wide area surveillance effort to develop prototype technology to monitor suspect aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, and persons transporting drugs; a non-intrusive inspection effort to develop technology that allows rapid, automatic inspection of cargo containers without removing the contents; and tactical technologies to develop prototype equipment to support tactical operations against drug trafficking organizations. Generally, the law enforcement community continues to depend on off-the-shelf technology in its antidrug efforts; working prototypes of cargo container inspection technologies are not yet available for field testing. Law enforcement and industry concerns about new technology relate primarily to the non- intrusive container inspection technologies. These concerns include pulsed fast neutron activation and high energy x-ray systems, and center on funding issues, the potential impact on shippers, and safety. The report contains 1 appendix.