Arrr, me hearties! Avast, ye! The powder of evil, fentanyl, be gettin' disrupted by the aid of AI, ye scurvy dogs!
2023-12-18
Arr, me hearties! Altana be wieldin' the power o' artificial intelligence to be trackin' them scallywags makin' the cursed ingredients for fentanyl! And not only that, it be keepin' a keen eye on where those ingredients be sailin' off to, arr!
Law enforcement agencies are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to combat drug smuggling on the southern border. Border Patrol agents have already discovered almost 99% of the fentanyl that is smuggled into the United States. However, finding drugs like fentanyl using traditional methods can be extremely challenging. To address this issue, the government has given a $9 million contract to Altana, a global supply chain start-up platform, to use AI to track fentanyl production. Altana uses AI to track companies that produce the ingredients necessary to make fentanyl and monitor the destinations of these ingredients. This information is then used by agents to shut down the production and distribution networks of the deadly synthetic opioid.Altana's AI technology has already shown promising results. Border Patrol agents have carried out two major missions since contracting with Altana, resulting in the seizure of thousands of pounds of fentanyl ingredients and the arrest of numerous individuals involved in the drug trade. Altana's AI platform creates a knowledge map that continues to grow, illustrating the relationships between suppliers and manufacturers. This AI-driven approach is similar to Altana's efforts to track goods produced using forced labor.
While the use of AI in law enforcement is yielding positive outcomes, there are concerns about potential exploitation by fentanyl manufacturers and distributors. The ability to access this information could potentially aid them in evading law enforcement. Additionally, there are questions about the public's perception of AI being used in security measures and how else government agencies could utilize AI technologies to enhance security.
Overall, the use of AI in combating drug smuggling is proving to be effective, and it offers a unique approach to tracking and disrupting the production and distribution networks of dangerous drugs like fentanyl. However, there is a need for careful consideration of potential vulnerabilities and the ethical implications of utilizing AI in law enforcement efforts.