CBP Wants AI-Powered ‘Quantum Sensors’ for Finding Fentanyl in Cars | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InCaroline HaskinsSecurityJan 23, 2026 12:08 PMCBP Wants AI-Powered ‘Quantum Sensors’ for Finding Fentanyl in CarsUS Customs and Border Protection is paying General Dynamics to create prototype “quantum sensors,” to be used with an AI database to detect fentanyl and other narcotics.Photograph: John Moore/Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyUnited States Customs and Border Protection is paying General Dynamics to create a prototype of “quantum sensors” alongside a “database with artificial intelligence” designed “to detect illicit objects and substances (such as fentanyl) in vehicles, containers, and other devices,” according to a contract justification published in a federal register last week.“This database and sensor project will integrate advanced quantum and classical sensing technologies with Artificial Intelligence and ultimately deploy proven concepts and end products anywhere in the CBP environment,” the justification document reads. “Under this requirement, CBP will take additional steps to enhance its ability to detect, and thus, significantly reduce the harms of illicit contraband entering the United States of America, thus bolstering national security.”The document redacts the name of the company developing the prototype; however, contract details included in the federal register entry reveal that the justification is for a $2.4 million General Dynamics contract that has been public since December 2025.CBP and General Dynamics did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.CBP’s request for a prototype of “quantum sensors” with an AI database—which comes amid a widespread push within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to support the adoption and scaling of AI technologies,” according to a strategy memorandum published last year—involves a real and growing area of scientific and technological research.Last week’s justification does not get into detail about which methods its “quantum sensors” would use or what information the AI database would store and analyze. However, it does provide hints about detection methods the agency has considered.The document claims that CBP conducted market research from April through October of 2025. In July, CBP published an information request seeking a vendor for exactly 35 handheld "Gemini” analyzers, sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific, which are designed to identify unknown chemicals and narcotics.DHS has also tested the Gemini in previous years, according to reports published in 2021 and 2023. The July request—which notes that the devices would be used to identify substances like fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, diazepam, and MDMA—makes no mention of artificial intelligence or a database.“The detection equipment will be used by CBP Officers in non-intrusive testing to detect a wide range of narcotics, controlled substances, unknown substances, and general organic materials,” the request reads, noting that the agency “continues to seize an increasing number of opioids at the nation’s borders.”Got a Tip?Are you a current or former government employee who wants to talk about CBP's technology? We'd like to hear from you. Using a nonwork phone or computer, contact the reporter securely on Signal at carolinehaskins.61.The July request for information claims that the Gemini analyzers use “Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),” which measures how much infrared light a sample absorbs, and “Raman spectroscopy,” which measures how light scatters off the surface of a sample when a laser is directed at it.Last week’s contract justification says that the agency found an American company that creates a “handheld analyzer” for identifying dangerous chemicals but claimed it “cannot detect fentanyl.” It’s unclear whether this was referring to Gemini or one of the more than 10 other devices DHS tested in 2021 and 2023. But when reached for comment, Thermo Fisher Scientific said that its Gemini analyzers “are designed to detect fentanyl.”It’s also unclear whether the General Dynamics prototype may use FTIR or Raman spectroscopy. But a 2024 working paper about a laboratory-based fentanyl-detection method (unrelated to CBP, General Dynamics, or Thermo Fisher Scientific) notes that “portable Raman spectrometers” and other handheld devices—though convenient, fast, and inexpensive—can “struggle with detection of fentanyl” and may be prone to “false-positive and false-negative results.”While it remains ambiguous what exactly last week’s justification was referring to with its mention of “quantum” sensors, there are fentanyl detection methods based in quantum chemistry. The 2024 paper, for instance, explains how “quantum dots” and fluorescent dye can be used to detect fentanyl and 58 of its analogues.Matthew Webber, an engineering professor and molecular science researcher at the University of Notre Dame and one of the coauthors on the 2024 paper, tells WIRED that the “quantum dots” are an artificially made, graphene-based nanomaterial. When combined with a fluorescent dye and a synthetic molecule that acts like a “basket,” Webber says, there’s visible and quantifiable fluorescence. When a few micrograms of fentanyl are added to this mixture, Webber says, it sticks to the quantum dots and “outcompetes” the fluorescent dye, causing a loss of fluorescence.Webber notes that all fentanyl-related lab research is conducted in a “super-controlled environment,” and never entails large quantities of fentanyl for legal, practical, and safety reasons. He emphasizes the sensitive nature of discussing fentanyl research, and says that labs like his never have bags of fentanyl laying around, an incorrect impression some people may have.When asked about CBP’s request for an “AI database” accompanying the quantum sensors, Webber says that AI could potentially help with matters like “spectral deconvolution.”“If you have signals coming from multiple agents within a mixture, the eye may not be able to see to deconvolve the spectra into individual components, Webber says. “But there’s potentially AI-based specialty convolution frameworks that could be powerful in that context.”In other words, since new street drugs can constantly move the goalposts of detection, an AI-based system that processes images and recognizes patterns may catch fentanyl in situations where a human could miss it.You Might Also LikeIn your inbox: WIRED's most ambitious, future-defining storiesDoes the “war on protein” exist?Big Story: China’s renewable energy revolution might save the worldThe race to build the DeepSeek of Europe is onWatch our livestream replay: Welcome to the Chinese centuryCaroline Haskins is a business reporter at WIRED, covering Silicon Valley, surveillance, and labor. She has previously worked as a staff reporter at Business Insider, BuzzFeed News, and Vice's Motherboard, as well as a research editor at Business Insider. ... 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Here’s how to prep and bunker in for an extreme winter storm.Our Favorite Earbuds for Most People Are Over 25 Percent OffThese excellent earbuds were already a good deal before the discount.CBP Wants AI-Powered ‘Quantum Sensors’ for Finding Fentanyl in CarsUS Customs and Border Protection is paying General Dynamics to create prototype “quantum sensors,” to be used with an AI database to detect fentanyl and other narcotics.WIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. 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CBP is investing in a sophisticated detection system aimed at combating the escalating fentanyl crisis at the nation’s borders. The agency has contracted with General Dynamics to develop a prototype system integrating “quantum sensors” alongside an AI-driven database. This initiative represents a significant shift in CBP’s approach, moving beyond traditional detection methods to leverage cutting-edge scientific technologies.

The core of the project involves creating a system that utilizes quantum sensors—the precise nature of which remains somewhat unclear—combined with an AI database. The justification document, published last week, highlights CBP’s escalating concerns regarding the increasing volume of opioid seizures. The agency acknowledges a trend of “an increasing number of opioids at the nation’s borders” and asserts the need for enhanced capabilities to mitigate the associated risks to national security. This investment underscores a strategic response to a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

While the specifics of the quantum sensors remain somewhat opaque, the project’s foundation rests on exploring advanced sensing technologies. Market research conducted between April and October of 2025 revealed that CBP was seeking a handheld analyzer – specifically, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Gemini analyzer – to identify substances like fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, diazepam, and MDMA. The Gemini analyzer, already in use by CBP Officers, employs Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy to measure how samples interact with light, providing a spectral fingerprint that can be used for identification.

However, the initial contract justification highlighted a gap in detection capabilities. It identified a situation where an American company offered a “handheld analyzer” for identifying dangerous chemicals but, crucially, claimed it “cannot detect fentanyl.” This ambiguity raises questions about the capabilities of the broader system, including the potential role of the General Dynamics prototype.

The use of an AI database accompanying the quantum sensors introduces another layer of complexity. AI could potentially assist in “spectral deconvolution,” a process involving separating complex mixtures into their individual components. This is particularly relevant when dealing with multiple substances within a single sample. The AI system could theoretically identify patterns and signals that a human operator might miss, offering an advantage in detecting fentanyl in situations where the spectrum is obscured.

Matthew Webber, an engineering professor and molecular science researcher at the University of Notre Dame, provides further insight into potential detection methods. Webber notes the development of “quantum dots”—artificially made graphene-based nanomaterials—combined with fluorescent dye and a “basket” molecule. When a few micrograms of fentanyl is added to this mixture, it sticks to the quantum dots which outcompetes the fluorescence, causing a loss of fluorescence. He emphasizes the sensitive nature of this lab research, highlighting the controlled environment and the practical reasons why large quantities of fentanyl are never handled.

Looking ahead, the integration of AI suggests a proactive approach to combating drug smuggling. By processing images and recognizing patterns, the AI system could potentially anticipate evolving drug formulations and detection methods. This adaptive capability is crucial in the face of a constantly shifting threat landscape.

The overall investment reflects a strategic response by CBP to address the critical fentanyl crisis effectively. The combination of quantum sensors, AI databases, and advanced analytical tools represents an effort to enhance detection capabilities and ultimately strengthen national security.