Bunk Technology
Many excellent detection devices exist. But potential purchasers of new technology are wise to beware of something that seems too good to be true. This is especially true of explosives and narcotics detectors. In 1993, the Quadro Corporation of Hadleyville, S.C., sold the Quadro Tracker Positive Molecular Locator to around 1,000 police departments and school districts in the United States at prices ranging from $400 to $8,000.
Users placed a sample of the substance to be detected into a "locator card," which was then inserted into a "card reader" attached to the device, which had a swiveling antenna. By moving the antenna, the operator was led to the target substance. The more advanced, expensive models were said to be able to find almost anything-weapons, narcotics (ingested and otherwise), golf balls, missing children, jewelry-using only a Polaroid photo of the substance or item to be found.
However, when the FBI examined the device, it found the device was essentially hollow, the components were not electrically connected to one another, and the antenna came from a transistor radio. The whole mechanism was essentially a high-priced dowsing rod.
Operating on the "if it worked once..." strategy, several other vendors have produced similar worthless devices for explosive detection, called variously Alpha 6, GT200, Sniffex, and ADE-651. The latter device was sold to the Iraqi government as a bomb detector as recently as last year. After some disappointing and literally shattering experiences, in January 2010 the British government banned the device for export and arrested the company director for fraud.
Inexpensive high-technology explosive detection solutions are still elusive. Unless you have a large budget, your best measures for now may be specially trained dogs, conventional hazardous device procedures, and if all else fails, blow the thing up.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
EXPLOSIVES DETECTION
Allen-Vanguard Inc.
(contraband detection Equipment, metal detectors, inspection cameras)
Visit Allen-Vanguard Online
American Science & Engineering
(x-ray bomb Detection equipment)
Visit AS&E Online
Criminalistics, Inc.
(bomb handling equipment)
Visit Criminalistics Online
Field Forensics Inc.
(on-the-spot testing for trace explosives)
Visit Field Forensics Online
Garrett Metal Detectors
(metal detectors)
Visit Garrett Metal Detectors Online
Icx Technologies
(Raman spectroscopy)
Visit Icx Technologies Online
The Mako Group
(prodder kit, trip wires)
Visit The Mako Group Online
Morphix Technologies
(gas detection)
Visit Morphix Technologies Online
Morpho Detection
(IMS, CT scanners)
Visit Morpho Detection Online
SAS R&D
(contraband detection)
Visit SAS R&D Online
Smiths Detection
(IMS)
Visit Smiths Detection Online
SpectraFluidics, Inc.
(Free-Surface microFluidics (FSF) and Surface-
Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS))
Visit SpectraFluidics Online
Vidisco Ltd.
(X-ray inspection)
Visit Vidisco Online
Zistos
(portable video equipment, inspection cameras)
Visit Zistos Online
EXPLOSIVES DISPOSAL
Criminalistics
Visit Criminalistics Online
SecureSearch
Visit SecureSearch Online
EXPLOSIVES TRAINING
Securesearch
(bomb awareness training aids)
Visit SecureSearch Online
Tripwire
Visit Tripwire Online
EXPLOSIVES STORAGE
U.S. Explosive Storage
Visit U.S. Explosive Storage Online
Tim Dees is a retired police officer and the former editor of two major law enforcement Websites. He can be reached at editor@policemag.com.