CBP Wants AI-Powered ‘Quantum Sensors’ for Finding Fentanyl in Cars

United States Customs and Border Protection is paying General Dynamics to make a prototype of “quantum sensors” alongside a “database with artificial intelligence” designed “to observe illicit objects and substances (such arsenic fentanyl) successful vehicles, containers, and different devices,” according to a declaration justification published successful a national registry past week.

“This database and sensor task volition integrate precocious quantum and classical sensing technologies with Artificial Intelligence and yet deploy proven concepts and extremity products anyplace successful the CBP environment,” the justification papers reads. “Under this requirement, CBP volition instrumentality further steps to heighten its quality to detect, and thus, importantly trim the harms of illicit contraband entering the United States of America, frankincense bolstering nationalist security.”

The papers redacts the sanction of the institution processing the prototype; however, declaration details included successful the national registry introduction uncover that the justification is for a $2.4 cardinal General Dynamics declaration that has been nationalist since December 2025.

CBP and General Dynamics did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.

CBP’s petition for a prototype of “quantum sensors” with an AI database—which comes amid a wide propulsion wrong the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to enactment the adoption and scaling of AI technologies,” according to a strategy memorandum published past year—involves a existent and increasing country of technological and technological research.

Last week’s justification does not get into item astir which methods its “quantum sensors” would usage oregon what accusation the AI database would store and analyze. However, it does supply hints astir detection methods the bureau has considered.

The papers claims that CBP conducted marketplace probe from April done October of 2025. In July, CBP published an accusation petition seeking a vendor for precisely 35 handheld "Gemini” analyzers, sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific, which are designed to place chartless chemicals and narcotics.

DHS has besides tested the Gemini successful erstwhile years, according to reports published successful 2021 and 2023. The July request—which notes that the devices would beryllium utilized to place substances similar fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, diazepam, and MDMA—makes nary notation of artificial quality oregon a database.

“The detection instrumentality volition beryllium utilized by CBP Officers successful non-intrusive investigating to observe a wide scope of narcotics, controlled substances, chartless substances, and wide integrated materials,” the petition reads, noting that the bureau “continues to prehend an expanding fig of opioids astatine the nation’s borders.”

The July petition for accusation claims that the Gemini analyzers usage “Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),” which measures however overmuch infrared airy a illustration absorbs, and “Raman spectroscopy,” which measures however airy scatters disconnected the aboveground of a illustration erstwhile a laser is directed astatine it.

Last week’s declaration justification says that the bureau recovered an American institution that creates a “handheld analyzer” for identifying unsafe chemicals but claimed it “cannot observe fentanyl.” It’s unclear whether this was referring to Gemini oregon 1 of the much than 10 different devices DHS tested successful 2021 and 2023. But erstwhile reached for comment, Thermo Fisher Scientific said that its Gemini analyzers “are designed to observe fentanyl.”

It’s besides unclear whether the General Dynamics prototype whitethorn usage FTIR oregon Raman spectroscopy. But a 2024 moving insubstantial astir a laboratory-based fentanyl-detection method (unrelated to CBP, General Dynamics, oregon Thermo Fisher Scientific) notes that “portable Raman spectrometers” and different handheld devices—though convenient, fast, and inexpensive—can “struggle with detection of fentanyl” and whitethorn beryllium prone to “false-positive and false-negative results.”

While it remains ambiguous what precisely past week’s justification was referring to with its notation of “quantum” sensors, determination are fentanyl detection methods based successful quantum chemistry. The 2024 paper, for instance, explains however “quantum dots” and fluorescent dye tin beryllium utilized to observe fentanyl and 58 of its analogues.