Counteracting postal terrorism.

Counteracting postal terrorism..

SHELKOV Vadim Antoninovich

COUNTERACTING POSTAL TERRORISM

С It is regrettable to note that terrorism has become an integral attribute of the modern world. The range of means used by terrorists remains exceptionally wide. But the most common is the use of explosive devices. With some sadistic passion, news sites offer Internet users photographs of suffering wounded, disfigured corpses, craters, ruins, and mangled equipment. Against the background of this bloody bacchanalia, mail terrorism looks very “intelligent” (if we take into account some work of albeit diabolical, but still intellect). A mail terrorist is in some ways akin to a sniper: the hellish machine hidden in a letter or a package has a clearly determined, targeted” character in the full sense of the word. An explosive mail item assumes that the addressee will be defeated when it is opened. As a rule, these actions are aimed at specific individuals: managers and responsible employees of various state and commercial structures and are aimed at their physical destruction or, at least, intimidation. Metal detectors are usually recommended for checking mail, since it is unlikely that a homemade explosive device would be created without metal elements.

However, paper clips and staples, as well as stickers with metallized surfaces, force one to resort to the help of other technical means. Explosive vapor detectors also do not solve the problem: most devices (except for the “coolest”) do not sense plastic explosives. And if we assume that the dangerous attachment was carefully packed and sealed, then these very expensive devices turn out to be completely useless. In addition, we should not forget that in addition to explosive devices, terrorists have begun to resort to more sophisticated tactics: sending letters with pathogenic microbes by mail. The range of dangerous attachments used by terrorists is constantly expanding. In addition to explosive devices, elements of chemical and bacteriological action, we should also add radioactive substances, as well as weapons. The latter, both firearms and bladed weapons, are often sent by contraband without much fear of being caught at postal control points. And this can be explained quite simply: such weapons are camouflaged as ordinary household items: mobile phones, screwdrivers, pens, lighters, and finally, children's toys. And if we add to this that a disposable pistol or a razor-sharp folding knife, made of reinforced plastic or ceramics, are completely invisible to metal detectors, the seriousness of the problem becomes obvious. The concern of the special services is also explained by the following: when folded, such weapons are so successfully disguised by elements of the camouflage item that even an experienced operator-inspector, using modern inspection equipment, can easily miss a dangerous parcel («INTERSEC», Vol. 12, Issue 2, 2002). An analysis of the state of affairs with postal security suggests that the only reliable barrier to postal terrorism is a post for checking incoming correspondence, equipped with the appropriate modern inspection equipment. And this is provided that the company's employees strictly adhere to the established safety rules and operating procedures. The appearance on the market of portable X-ray television units allowed at one time to radically solve the problem of checking suspicious correspondence: they are distinguished by high detection capacity, exceptional ease of use, high productivity and low impact on the surrounding area and service personnel.

The shadow image obtained as a result of scanning clearly displays the internal contents of the object being examined. In addition to explosive devices, such a device allows you to detect containers with dangerous contents: radioactive, toxic and irritating substances, as well as hidden listening devices.

Until recently, stationary installations of the KALAN series were recommended for checking mail. They allow you to check even parcels up to 550x450x520 mm in size, but it is not always possible to install such a device weighing 210 kg.

And now the Moscow company “NOVO” has presented the long-awaited device: “PSCAN-2611”. It is designed to monitor incoming correspondence: letters, packages, etc. and detect various dangerous attachments in them. These include, first of all, explosive devices and their components, containers with explosive, toxic, narcotic and radioactive substances, as well as weapons and contraband. In addition to conventional radiography, the device allows you to identify sources of gamma radiation hidden in mail.

The original U-shaped X-ray detector-converter practically covers the object of control and guarantees the absence of “dead zones”. A pseudo-color image of the internal structure of the controlled object is reproduced on the monitor screen.

The radiation safety of the operator and those around is reliably ensured by the design of the device. The safety of photographic films, possibly located in controlled packages, is guaranteed. Small dimensions, comparable to desktop duplicating equipment, allow you to easily place the unit in the interior of any office.

Main characteristics of XR-PSCAN-2611