The war on drugs may not make big headlines like it did several decades ago, but it is still the reality for US law enforcement. To add, smugglers have become cleverer than ever, hiding their stash in the least expected places so they may escape detection from drug interdiction agents.
Because of the increase in smuggling illegal substances, it resulted in the creation of contraband detection and drug interdiction equipment using the latest technology. Campbell/Harris Security Equipment Company (CSECO) was one of the world’s frontrunners when it comes to drug interdiction equipment. It was the first to introduce the best density meter for the detection of narcotics and other illegal substances hidden in vehicles.
That density meter was called the Buster, or specifically, the Buster K910B Density Meter. It was the brainchild of CSECO founder Patrick J. Campbell, who at the time, had over 35 years of experience in designing and manufacturing equipment and devices using radioactive elements. Campbell developed the Buster by incorporating sophisticated technology that would enable it to detect hidden items. But he also designed the Buster in a way that would allow people with little technical training to use it effectively.
If you think that’s all that would make the Buster great, you haven’t read about it much yet! Since the Buster was introduced, it has helped seize billions of dollars’ worth of narcotics, illegal substances, and cash, among other items, confiscated mostly from vehicles passing through the national borders (many of those coming from Mexico).
The success behind the Buster is the technology that it uses. It has a low intensity gamma radiation emitter and scintillation detector to quickly scan vehicles, other items, and locations for hidden contraband. With the Buster, it allows the inspector to determine whether a suspect vehicle tests positive for contraband in less than five minutes or it can scan an average sized room in less than ten minutes.
Unlike millimeter wave, radio-wave, ultra-violet, or microwave technologies, the Buster can identify concealed items through different materials – wood, metal, or reinforced plastic – without causing damage to the items being inspected. It can detect for various types of hidden contraband: narcotics and other illegal substances, cash, alcohol, weapons, and explosives.
The newest version of the Buster, the Buster K910G Density Meter, has new safety features. The radioactive source is now at least 25% smaller than any other density meter currently available. And, all lead components have been removed, making the K910G by far the safest and most environmentally friendly model on the market. The Buster K910G also now comes with a two-year free warranty!
While the Buster can be used on its own, inspections will be more effective if it is used alongside other types of contraband detection equipment, also made by CSECO. The company offers a comprehensive kit, called the CT-40 Detection Team Kit, which contains other tools and devices apart from the Buster:
- Perfect Vision V20 Videoscope Inspection System – This tool has a large 5-inch display with push-button dimming and digital zoom that’s 10 times the resolution of the leading telescopes. It can be used in conjunction with the Buster to further confirm the presence of hidden contraband. It is the first videoscope to receive the UL safety certification, which allows it to be used in hazardous areas such as gas tanks.
- PN – Series Inspection Probe Kit – Several stainless-steel probes with grooves designed to trap contraband when inserted into upholstery, sacks, flower beds, etc.
- Leica Laser Range Meter – This tool is used to find false walls, bulkheads, and hidden compartments in truck beds, freight containers, and other spaces with known dimensions.
- PM-Extension Inspection Mirror with High-Intensity Flashlight – This item allows viewing into dark and hard-to-reach places, such as the underside of the vehicle or behind items in a commercial trailer.
The Buster-on-a-Stick extension pole does not come free when you purchase the Buster, nor it is included in the CT-40 Kit. Instead, it is sold separately. Attach the Buster at the end of this telescoping stick and you can now use it to scan difficult-to-access areas.
CSECO also provides training on the use the Buster for the purchasers. The company provides free training at their own facilities in California. But if you’d like CSECO to visit your site or facility to provide training for your team, the company charges a standard training fee.
The war on drugs is still ongoing. But with such sophisticated devices as the Buster – the world’s best density meter for detection – drugs and other illegal substances are detected and seized before reaching their destination, keeping them off the streets.