The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is currently evaluating technology that can detect illegal substances in the air without any physical contact. This device aims to screen border items within seconds, targeting the trafficking of drugs like fentanyl, which is a major factor in the U.S. opioid crisis.

Detecting drugs and explosive materials is challenging due to the limited number of molecules they release into the air, which is already crowded with various vapors. To tackle this issue, Robert Ewing and his team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have dedicated over a decade to developing an advanced system known as VaporID. This system can accurately identify certain substances within a range of 0.6 to 2.4 meters at an astonishing sensitivity, comparable to locating a single coin amidst 17 million stacked pennies equivalent to the height of Mount Everest.

Government researchers achieved this by allowing molecules to interact longer, increasing the chances of detectable chemical reactions. Most devices for detecting unknown substances only provide a reaction time of milliseconds, Ewing stated. “We designed an atmospheric flow tube that allows for a reaction time of 2-3 seconds, enhancing sensitivity by three orders of magnitude.”

The technology is currently implemented in an 18-kilogram commercial device that fits in the size of a microwave. This compact machine, developed by Bayspec, is indeed lighter than their previous versions, which weighed over 100 kilograms but were less sensitive than the PNNL prototype, which is about the size of a small fridge. Nevertheless, it claims to be “more accurate and sensitive than a canine detector,” according to William Yang, CEO of Bayspec.

In October 2024, Bayspec and PNNL tested the portable device at a Customs and Border Protection facility in Nogales, Arizona. In separate trials, researchers swabbed the surfaces of seized tablets and then heated the swabs to generate steam for detection. “Both methods yielded strong and reliable results,” stated Christian Thoma from Bayspec.

The prototype is still under evaluation and requires further scientific data review, as noted by a spokesperson from CBP.

Alex Krotulski from the Center for Forensic Research and Education, a nonprofit based in Pennsylvania, expressed caution, stating, “We have seen numerous devices that have promised much but have often disappointed, and we remain skeptical until thorough research proves their efficacy.”

Current portable detection techniques, including x-ray technology, already exist for uncovering concealed drugs. Independent consultant Richard Crocombe acknowledged the new tool as a “valuable addition to existing techniques,” but cautioned that it “doesn’t fulfill every requirement.” For instance, a CBP representative mentioned that while the device could expedite drug testing in field labs, new innovations would necessitate analysis by trained chemists.

Concerns about false positives are also prevalent, as noted by Joseph Palamar at New York University. A past study indicated that a majority of U.S. banknotes carry contamination. “If you are near someone using fentanyl, a positive result can occur due to residual traces on their clothing or shoes, leading to potential wrongful detainment of innocent individuals,” he added, as explained by Chelsea Schauber from UCLA.

Intercepting drugs before they reach the country is merely one component of a comprehensive strategy required to tackle the opioid crisis, says Schauber. This broader effort demands robust public health resources, healthcare access, and extensive treatment alternatives. “Currently, these supports are being reduced under the Trump administration,” she noted. “To genuinely save lives, we need to make effective, evidence-based treatments more accessible than illicit substances,” Schober emphasized.