2014 Digital Yearbook of Homeland Security Awards

impeding the flow of legal traffic, CBP added Z Portals
to the Southwestern border starting in 2011. The NII
Program Office worked closely with the Interdiction
Technology Office to ensure an efficient, well-managed
project, averaging one deployment per month. Both the
Z Portal and ZBV systems have proven very successful,
expediting operations and using low-energy Z Backscatter
technology to quickly detect organic materials (e.g.
explosives, drugs, currency, etc.). By expanding NII
operations to include more Z Portal systems, CBP can
now inspect cars much more rapidly, enabling scanning
of almost 100% of cars designated for secondary inspection.
“[Z Portal/ZBV technology] has been a tremendously
effective tool for us in identifying and seizing additional
illicit drugs … [The Z Portal/ZBV systems] are more
efficient because they work faster and they have a lower
energy level that allows us to put more vehicles through
them … we have been able to benefit from an improving
continual technology.”***
Notable Z Portal/ZBV detections along the Southwestern
border include: $1.1 million of heroin inside an SUV’s
hidden compartment; more than $900,000 of cocaine
hidden in a truck bed; and more than $500,000 (656
lbs) of marijuana concealed in the floor and bed area of
a pickup truck.
Overall, the NII Systems Program has had a significant
impact on the detection of drugs, currency, and weapons
along the Southwestern border. For example, during
FY 2009-12, CBP seized 71% more currency, 39% more
drugs, and 189% more weapons along the Southwestern
Border than FY 2006-8.**
* U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative
Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
**CBP testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security,
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, 2/26/2013
***CBP testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security,
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, 3/20/2013
Link to Web Page of Nominated Organization:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
http://www.cbp.gov/
Link to additional information on product,
service or program, with brief description:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/portsentry
http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/
documents/z_portal_2.pdf
Link to Web page or Document with independent
media coverage, with brief description:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
http://www.as-e.com/uploads/media/CBP_Z_
Portal_and_ZBV_Seizures_2014.pdf
Name and organization of nominating
contact for this entry, including name, title,
organization:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Laura Berman
Vice President, Corporate Communications
AS&E
Nominating contact’s office telephone and cell
phone:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
(978) 262-8700
Nominating contact’s email address:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
lberman@as-e.com
Address of nominating contact’s organization:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
American Science and Engineering, Inc.
829 Middlesex Turnpike
Billerica, MA 01821
99