By Charles Stowell

Auto manufacturers have used thermal imagers for years to inspect trucks and autos during the manufacturing process. In doing so they discovered that thermal imagers were not only good for inspecting belts, electrical connections, and other applications, but detecting body work as well.

Some automobiles and trucks were damaged during the manufacturing process and repaired in the factory rather than having the parts replaced. No matter how carefully the repairs were made, the industry found that the repairs were detectable using thermal imagers. Also, gasoline tank inspections revealed that the fuel level as well as the tank baffles could be detected.

Beginning in 1996, law enforcement agencies in the state of Missouri and some Border Patrol agents began a study to ascertain if the automobile industry application could be adapted by law enforcement.

At first, large tanker trucks were inspected with mixed results. Problems arose with solar loading and the highly reflective metal and painted surfaces. However, with practice and especially at night, agents began to recognize tank trucks with baffled compartments and other concealed compartments. Border Patrol agents were even finding aliens stuffed into milk and gasoline tankers.

Border agencies made the latest breakthrough by inspecting the "saddle" fuel tanks of the trucks themselves. Located just below and behind the tractor cabs, those tanks have proven to be the favorite "stash" of drug smugglers.

In the past two years, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada have expanded this application to include cargo containers (Conex). Extensive thermal imaging has shown that surface anomalies of these large metal containers will show up even if painted over. Conex’s have been used by the cartels for years to smuggle contraband. When the R.C.M.P. Customs began their random "container" searches, the smugglers began to hide the contraband inside the walls of the containers. If a smuggler cuts into a conex to hid contraband in the walls, no matter how good the repair is completed, painted or not, the surface emissivity is forever changed. At Halifax, which is a high volume port, the Mounties use thermal imagers to check a broad range of containers.