Examination of ice filled fish crates using High-Frequency Ground Penetrating Radar - Contraband detection

The smuggling of contraband and high-duty items is a problem faced by governments across the globe. In Singapore, a common method of smuggling small contraband items (e.g. cigarettes, drugs, weapons) is to hide them in consignments of fresh fish packed in ice. Inspection of suspect vessels is a time and labour intensive process. Inspections can also occur at sea, where movement around the vessel is hazardous and unpacking of cargo is problematic. A possible solution to these problems is the use of High Frequency Ground Penetrating Radar (HFGPR). In this pilot study we use 1000MHz shielded antenna to examine the contents of typical containers used in the packing and transport of fish. Fish were found to be invisible to HFGPR, with reflections similar to crushed ice. Simulated contraband placed in the ice filled boxes was detected by the GPR as voids or a reflection hyperbola (in the case of a metal knife). Our early results attest to the potential of HFGPR as a utility for contraband detection.