Screening technologies for detection of swallowed packages of narcotics

Lowell J. Burnett; Erik E. Magnuson; Alan G. Sheldon; Sankaran Kumar

doi:10.1117/12.265378

28 January 1997 Screening technologies for detection of swallowed packages of narcotics

Lowell J. Burnett, Erik E. Magnuson, Alan G. Sheldon, Sankaran Kumar

Proceedings Volume 2932, Human Detection and Positive Identification: Methods and Technologies; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.265378
Event: Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security, 1996, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

An increasingly popular method of transporting modest quantities of narcotics across international borders is to employ 'swallowers'. These are people who typically enter the country as international airline passengers after swallowing small, water-tight packages of heroin and/or cocaine. Rapid and accurate identification of swallowers in the airport environment poses difficult technical changes. Commonly used medical inspection technologies fall into one of two categories. Either they are unsuitable for widespread use, or they do not provide adequate information. An example of the former is x-ray scanning, while an example of the latter is ultrasonic imaging. Quantum Magnetics has developed a system to screen selected airline passengers for the presence of swallowed narcotics. The system utilizes magnetic resonance, which provides the physical basis for the magnetic resonance imaging systems widely used in the medical community as an alternative to x-rays. The system is currently operational, and laboratory performance testing is complete. Both the design of the system and its performance will be discussed. This work was sponsored in part by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the US Customs Service.

Citation Download Citation

Lowell J. Burnett, Erik E. Magnuson, Alan G. Sheldon, and Sankaran Kumar "Screening technologies for detection of swallowed packages of narcotics", Proc. SPIE 2932, Human Detection and Positive Identification: Methods and Technologies, (28 January 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.265378

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