Ben Ray Lujan Questions CBP Nominee on Fentanyl Seizures and Port of Entry Technology

Fentanyl Seizures at Ports of Entry

• 🎯 The vast majority of drug seizures, including fentanyl, are made at legal ports of entry, with approximately 90% of known seizures occurring there.
• 🚗 A significant portion of these seizures are found in passenger vehicles driven by American citizens.

Technology and Screening Capabilities

• 💡 Non-intrusive inspection (NI) equipment and AI are crucial for enhancing CBP's ability to interdict drugs and make officers more effective.
• ⚠️ CBP's current inability to screen incoming and outgoing cargo puts officers and communities at risk due to the sheer volume of traffic.
• ✅ Inspection technology can help CBP officers perform their jobs more safely and effectively.

Achieving 100% Screening

• 📈 While 100% screening would theoretically make the country more secure, it involves tradeoffs in funding, time, and risk.
• 🏗️ Achieving this goal would likely require rebuilding port infrastructure and could lead to increased wait times.
• 💰 Significant conversations with Congress are needed to secure the funding for such an undertaking.

Collaboration and Next-Generation Tools

• 🤝 CBP should partner with national laboratories, private industry, and the Department of Defense to develop and deploy advanced tools.
• 🔬 These tools could help identify the molecular or chemical makeup of fentanyl and other narcotics.
• 🌐 Leveraging work from agencies like the Department of Energy could lead to commercialized, advanced technologies for domestic use.

Strategic Importance of Santa Teresa Port of Entry

• 📊 The Santa Teresa port of entry is strategically and economically important, ranking high in imports and exports for merchandise and livestock trade.
• ❓ The nominee committed to re-evaluating the priority for infrastructure improvements at ports like Santa Teresa, acknowledging that trade and travel have shifted dramatically.