Limitations of CBP OFO's Screening Device Used to Identify Fentanyl and Other Narcotics

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) has spent nearly $25.6 million on 279 small scale chemical screening devices that do not identify fentanyl and other illicit narcotics at lower purity levels (10 percent or less). We also found CBP OFO does not have adequate policies for deploying, using, and updating the chemical screening devices. We made four recommendations that will help OFO officers better identify fentanyl and other illicit narcotics at ports of entry. Specifically, we recommended that OFO Executive Assistant Commissioner develop and implement a strategy to ensure all deployed devices are able to identify narcotics at purity levels less than or equal to 10 percent, or provide ports of entry with an alternative method. Further, the Executive Assistant Commissioner should develop a formal strategy to deploy, use, and keep the chemical screening devices updated. CBP concurred with all of the recommendations.