A contraband kit consists of a complete set of contraband detection tools that law enforcement use to detect, locate, and seize hidden contraband.
Campbell/Harris Security Equipment Company (CSECO) offers two contraband kits designed for customs and border patrol officers, drug interdiction agents, the police, and special forces: the CT-30 Contraband Team Detection Kit and the CT-40 Contraband Team Detection Kit.
Every kit comes with all the tools necessary to search a vehicle, container, boat, trailer, or any object and space for hidden contraband, without the need to dismantle or disassemble it into pieces unless contraband is discovered.
CT-30 Contraband Team Detection Kit
The CT-30 Contraband Team Detection Kit was CSECO’s first contraband detection tool kit. Available for about 25 years, it remains one of CSECO’s best-selling items. It consists of:
- Buster K910G Density Meter and Contraband Detector
- It uses low-intensity gamma radiation emitter and back scatter scintillation detector to identify the difference in density between contraband (narcotics, cash, weapons, explosives, etc.) and the object in which the contraband is hidden.
- It has the RAD-AWARE radiation detector feature that allows first responders to establish safe parameters in the event of a dirty-bomb detonation or any type of radioactive release.
- The latest version of the Buster (K910G) does not have internal and external lead components, and the radioactive source is now at 25% smaller than any other density meter on the market, making it safe for use and for the environment.
- FV-Series Articulated Fiberscope
- It has a ¼ inch diameter (6mm) by 80-inch length (2m) flexible, fuel-resistant fiberscope with two-way articulated tip with integral light source that permits detailed examination of fuel tanks, dashboards, car doors, etc.
- It is used in conjunction with the Buster density meter and contraband detector.
- 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
- Laser range finder measuring device used to find falls walls, hidden compartments in truck beds, bulkheads, and other spaces with known dimensions.
- PM-10 Extension Inspection Mirror with High-Intensity Flashlight
- It allows viewing into dark and difficult-to-access places, such as beneath vehicles and behind containers.
- CT-30 Customer Carrying Case with Wheels
- Shock-resistant case with wheels that houses and transports the abovementioned tools.
CT-40 Contraband Team Detection Kit
The CT-40 Contraband Team Detection Kit was released a few years ago. However, it has quickly become among the most preferred and recommended contraband detection tool kits in the market.
This kit’s contents are similar to those of the CT-30 Contraband Detection Team Kit, except that it has the Perfect Vision V20 Videoscope Inspection System instead of the FV Series Articulated Fiberscope.
- Buster K910G Density Meter and Contraband Detector
- Perfect Vision V20 Videoscope Inspection System
- It has a ¼ inch diameter (6mm) by 80-inch length (2m) flexible, fuel-resistant shaft with a two-way articulated tip with integral light source.
- It has a five-inch (12.7 cm) multi-directional color LCD monitor and push-button digital zoom and photo/video image capture, which permits detailed examinations of internal and hard-to-reach parts of a vehicle, textiles, masonry, etc.
- It produces an image resolution that is ten times of that of the leading fiberscopes.
- It has a UL safety certification
- PN-Series Inspection Probe Kit
- Leica Laser Range Meter
- PM-10 Extension Inspection Mirror with High-Intensity Flashlight
- CT-40 Customer Carrying Case with Wheels
Which is better? The CT-30 or the CT-40?
The CT-40 Contraband Team Detection Kit is better because of the Perfect Vision V20 videoscope. It works better than a fiberscope in many ways:
- It produces way better image resolution.
- The Perfect Vision V20 videoscope has the large display monitor, which allows the user to see clearly into the suspect area without losing visibility of his surroundings.
- It does not need any camera attachments to take still images and videos.
- It does not have any glass fibers; thus, it is less prone to damage.
- It has the UL safety certification, which makes it safe to use even for inspecting hazardous areas.
However, the FV-Series Fiberscope is still very much used by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and especially overseas. It is praised for its two-way articulation that gives the user a 360-degree view inside the object being inspected. Its fiber optic bundle, protected by fuel- and gasoline-resistant coating, has around 16,000 individual strands of optical fiber and the high-intensity light source provides crystal-clear visibility even in dark places.
While the CT-30 and the CT-40 kits have slight differences, both are efficient at what they are designed for, with each contraband kit serving specific contraband detection needs or specifications of any law enforcement agent who uses them.