DHS Science and Technology Directorate calls for innovative approaches to targeting illegal cargo

With an eye on both inbound and outbound cargo, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a request for information (RFI) last week to call up new approaches to targeting illegal cargo and aiding delivery of legitimate cargo.

“Researching and developing new technologies to disrupt the flow of illicit fentanyl, including its precursor chemicals, analogues, manufacturing components and illicit financial gains is a Department of Homeland Security priority,” Joseph Martin, executive director of S&T’s Office of Mission & Capability Support, said. “The Directorate wants to collaborate with industry to explore innovative approaches and technology applications to curb the production, distribution, transportation, and proceeds of this illegal enterprise run by transnational criminal organizations.”

The RFI, which will run until Nov. 17, 2023, will be used to gather information on past, current and future research and development efforts focused on disruption of illicit cargo and related topics. Non-intrusive inspection technologies, advanced analytics for targeting or network illumination, international cooperation and more are all among the topics of interest.

In addition to cargo, supply chains and trade routes for items such as raw materials, manufacturing machinery or finished fentanyl are all being eyed as possible areas for deployment of new strategies to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain. S&T pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to highlight the importance of this, noting a report from last year that documented more than 100,000 American deaths linked to drug overdoses in a single year. More than two-thirds of those cases stemmed from synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Therefore, S&T said that disrupting the opioid supply chain will be key to obstructing fentanyl’s spread and bringing those death figures down.