Cocaine Smuggling: Metal Detectors Foiled By Creative Drug Mules

Airport security systems use metal detectors, backscatter X-ray machines, millimeter-wave scanners, and cabinet X-ray machines to ensure the safety of people travelling by air. Metal detectors use magnetic fields to identify metal objects. They create a magnetic field using a brief pulse of electrical current. If there is any metal, the magnetic radiation bounces back on the walls of the scanner, resulting in a beeping sound. While metal detectors are adept at identifying metal objects, they are not designed to detect non-metallic substances such as cocaine. However, other airport scanners can detect cocaine. X-ray scanners, for instance, can detect objects with different densities, including drugs hidden in luggage. Organic materials, such as drugs, appear differently on X-ray images compared to metal or plastic.

Metal detectors use magnetic fields to identify metal objects

Metal detectors are used in many areas of life, from leisure to work to safety. They are used to ensure that no one is bringing a weapon onto certain premises, and they are also used by hobbyists to find hidden treasure.

Metal detectors work using magnetic fields to identify metal objects. They use a coil of wire (wrapped around the circular head at the end of the handle) known as the transmitter coil. When electricity flows through the coil, a magnetic field is created all around it. As you sweep the detector over the ground, you make the magnetic field move around too. If there is a metal object within this magnetic field, the atoms inside the metal are affected, and the electrons within these atoms begin to move. This creates a second magnetic field, which is then picked up by the detector. The detector has a second coil of wire in its head (known as the receiver coil) that is connected to a circuit containing a loudspeaker. As you move the detector over the piece of metal, the magnetic field produced by the metal cuts through the coil, generating electricity and making the loudspeaker click or beep. The closer you move the transmitter coil to the metal, the stronger the magnetic field, and the louder the noise.

Metal detectors use one of three technologies: very low frequency (VLF), pulse induction (PI), and beat-frequency oscillation (BFO). The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil, producing an alternating magnetic field. If there is a piece of electrically conductive metal near the coil, eddy currents are induced in the metal, which produces its own magnetic field. If another coil is used to measure the magnetic field, the change in the magnetic field due to the metallic object can be detected.

Metal detectors are used in airport security to screen people before allowing access to the boarding area and the plane. They are also used in building security, event security, item recovery, and archaeological exploration.

X-ray scanners can detect objects with different densities

Metal detectors are one of the security devices used at airports to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. These devices use magnetic fields to identify metal objects. However, they are not the only security measure in place.

X-ray scanners are another type of security device used at airports. These scanners can detect objects with different densities, including drugs hidden in luggage. This is because X-rays can pass through most objects and create images based on the density and atomic number of the materials they pass through. For example, X-rays are absorbed more by denser materials like bones, which is why they appear whiter on X-ray images. Less dense materials, like fat and muscle, are easier for X-rays to pass through and so they appear in shades of grey.

The two primary types of X-ray scanners used for this purpose are:

• Backscatter X-ray scanners: These scanners use low-dose radiation to detect suspicious metallic and non-metallic objects hidden under clothing, in shoes, or inside body cavities. They emit X-rays that bounce back to the machine and create a monochromatic image of the scanned object. The dosage of radiation received is usually between 0.05 and 0.1 μSv.
• Transmission X-ray scanners: These scanners use higher-dose penetrating radiation that passes through the human body and is then captured by a detector or array of detectors. They can detect objects hidden under clothes and inside the body, such as drugs swallowed by drug couriers. The dosage received is usually not higher than 0.25 μSv.

In addition to these X-ray scanners, millimeter-wave scanners are also used for full-body scans. These scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation to detect items concealed on a person's body, including drugs hidden in clothing or strapped to the body. They do this by detecting unusual shapes or densities that stand out against the natural contours of the human body.

While these scanners can detect objects with different densities, it's important to note that they do not specifically "look" for drugs. Instead, they identify abnormalities or suspicious items based on density, shape, and the composition of the material scanned. If something suspicious is detected, trained security officers will investigate further through manual searches, drug-sniffing dogs, or chemical testing.

Millimeter-wave scanners detect items concealed on a person's body

Millimeter-wave scanners are whole-body imaging devices used to detect objects concealed underneath a person's clothing. They are commonly used at airport security checkpoints, government buildings, and border crossings. The technology uses electromagnetic radiation, specifically non-ionizing radiofrequency waves, to create a three-dimensional image of the person being scanned. The waves are reflected off the person's body and any objects they may be carrying, allowing for the detection of unusual shapes or densities that differ from the natural contours of the human body.

Millimeter-wave scanners are particularly effective at detecting non-metallic objects, addressing a concern that arose after various airliner bombing attempts in the 2000s. They can identify a range of items, including liquids, gels, plastics, powders, metals, ceramics, explosives, drugs, and money. The scanners produce a generic outline of a person, with any suspicious areas highlighted, addressing privacy concerns.

The use of millimeter-wave scanners has sparked debates about health and safety. While the machines operate with non-ionizing radiation, which is generally considered safe, there are ongoing studies to fully understand the potential health impacts. Additionally, the effectiveness of these scanners has been questioned due to a high rate of false positives caused by clothing folds, buttons, and even sweat.

Despite the concerns, millimeter-wave scanners remain an important tool for security, especially at airports. They provide a non-invasive method to detect hidden threats and ensure the safety of passengers and staff. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has implemented these scanners at various airports, continuously working to address privacy and health-related issues.

In conclusion, millimeter-wave scanners are a valuable security measure, capable of detecting items concealed on a person's body. While there have been debates about their effectiveness and potential health risks, they offer a layer of protection at airports and other secure locations worldwide.

Backscatter x-ray machines detect threats like weapons or explosives

Backscatter X-ray machines are a type of full-body imaging technology that has been used in airports to detect hidden weapons, tools, liquids, narcotics, currency, and other contraband. They are one of two types of whole-body imaging technologies, the other being millimeter wave scanners. Backscatter X-ray machines detect the radiation that reflects off the target and forms an image, as opposed to traditional X-ray machines that detect the variation in X-ray intensity transmitted through the target.

Backscatter X-ray machines have been deployed in airports to enhance security and detect potential threats. They are particularly useful for detecting non-metallic objects, such as plastic explosives or weapons made of ceramic or other non-metallic materials, that may not be detected by metal detectors or older X-ray machines. The technology can also detect organic materials, which show up differently on X-ray images compared to metal or plastic. This makes it effective for identifying drugs, explosives, or other organic compounds.

The use of backscatter X-ray machines in airports has sparked concerns about privacy and health risks. Privacy advocates argue that the machines produce images that amount to a virtual strip search, violating citizens' personal rights and causing potential humiliation. Health concerns have also been raised due to the machines' use of ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic even in small doses. However, the dose of radiation from backscatter machines is very low and equivalent to the amount of cosmic radiation received during a few minutes of flight.

In response to the concerns, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has implemented measures to address privacy and health worries. They have tested scanners with updated software that projects a cartoon-like image instead of a detailed outline of the body. Additionally, passengers always have the right to refuse full-body scans and opt for a pat-down search instead.

Handheld metal detectors are used to inspect suspicious passengers

Metal detectors are an essential component of airport security, providing a necessary level of security in high-risk environments. While they do not specifically detect drugs like cocaine, they play a crucial role in preventing prohibited items from compromising airport security. Handheld metal detectors are an integral part of this security protocol.

Handheld metal detectors are used for detailed, focused inspections of passengers and their belongings. They are typically employed after an initial alert from a walk-through metal detector or during secondary searches. These handheld devices are portable and versatile, allowing security personnel to conduct precise follow-up inspections and verify potential threats. The operator will ask the passenger to place their hand on top of the device, and if something suspicious is detected, the device will alert the security agent for further investigation.

These handheld detectors are highly sensitive and can distinguish between various types of metals. They operate by generating a magnetic field that identifies metal objects. When a metal object enters the detector's field, it disrupts the magnetic field and triggers an alarm. This technology enables security personnel to differentiate between harmless items, such as cell phones or belt buckles, and potential threats like firearms or knives.

The use of handheld metal detectors ensures that security threats are efficiently identified and addressed without causing significant delays in the security process. They provide a targeted approach to inspections, complementing the broader screening capabilities of walk-through metal detectors. By combining these technologies, airports can maintain a comprehensive security strategy that balances efficiency with thorough searching.

In addition to metal detectors, airports employ various other security measures, such as X-ray machines and surveillance cameras, to enhance overall security. X-ray machines are used to screen carry-on items and identify non-metallic threats, while surveillance cameras help monitor passenger behaviour and detect suspicious activities. Together, these tools create a robust security system that keeps travellers safe.

Frequently asked questions