FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S&T Public Affairs, 202-286-9047
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) is further strengthening its counter-fentanyl partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) with a three-year, $2.8 million contract award. This award tasks PNNL with researching and developing novel technologies for detecting fentanyl vapor and particles to support rapid screening of suspected fentanyl-containing samples, parcels, cargo containers and other conveyances. S&T has been at the forefront of ongoing research to prevent synthetic drugs and their precursors from entering the United States, providing DHS operators and first responders with the tools they need to keep communities safe, including research on vapor detection.
“Our borders must be a strong and capable line of defense against the entry of illicit fentanyl into this country,” said Travis Brown, Program Manager of S&T’s Forensics and Criminal Investigation Program and coordinator of S&T fentanyl related research. “By developing this vapor detection technology in partnership with PNNL, we are giving U.S. Customs and Border Protection another powerful tool to protect the United States from cartels and other transnational criminal organizations attempting to do harm to American citizens.”
This latest effort is in collaboration with CBP’s Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS), which operates the CBP laboratories and conducts analysis of unknown substances to determine the presence of illicit fentanyl. CBP LSS supports DHS’ operational components in intercepting fentanyl before it can reach U.S. citizens.
S&T has also partnered with CBP and the Department of the Interior to deploy innovative detection technology at several ports of entry, including non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology enabling CBP to screen more vehicles and conveyances in a shorter amount of time than physically swabbing suspect containers for samples. Research into novel technologies for detecting fentanyl vapor and particles will build on this progress as well as CBP’s use of machine learning models at mail facilities to further increase the efficiency and accuracy of the agency’s operations to detect and interdict illicit opioids, including fentanyl. The use of vapor detection technology could potentially reduce screening times further and advance DHS efforts to inspect greater proportions of mail and cargo.
“Innovation needs to keep pace with the fentanyl threat,” said Dave Fluty, CBP Assistant Commissioner for Laboratories and Scientific Services. “As these transnational criminal organizations attempt new ways to circumvent our efforts and smuggle fentanyl into the U.S., this collaborative technology can be an innovative means for frontline officers to intercept dangerous narcotics at our borders.”
Fentanyl is one of the top threats facing our homeland. DHS is a leader in this Administration’s efforts to crack down on the precursors, production, and trafficking of illicit fentanyl into the United States. DHS has surged resources to address this threat, seized more fentanyl in the last two fiscal years than in the prior five years combined. Thanks to these and other efforts, the number of overdose deaths has declined by more than 10 percent in the 12 months leading up to April 2024 – the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history. That said, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the most lethal of drugs trafficked into the country and continue to pose a national security threat. Learn more at DHS.gov/fentanyl.
More information about the Opioid and Fentanyl Detection Program can be found on S&T’s website: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/opioid-fentanyl-detection.
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