To combat the epidemic of fentanyl trafficking in the United States, federal law enforcement agencies are turning to the private sector, adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technology that enables them to trace and dismantle key players in opioid production and distribution networks.
In a recent development, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has extended a $9 million contract to New York-based global supply chain startup Altana, whose AI platform enables law enforcement to track the production of fentanyl.
Fentanyl, notorious for its difficulty to detect through conventional means, has become a major focus for border control efforts.
Altana employs AI to monitor companies involved in producing the essential ingredients for fentanyl manufacturing and tracks the global shipment of these components.
By compiling this information into a dynamic knowledge map, Altana provides law enforcement with insights into the complex network of suppliers and manufacturers involved in the illicit trade.
“We’ve spent years building a federated data and AI platform to create a living map of the supply chain,” said Altana’s CEO and co-founder Evan Smith.
Altana’s product, called Atlas, integrates various data sources, enabling network analysis of the global supply chain and supports enforcement efforts such as those mandated by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Since the initiation of the contract in July, Customs and Border Protection has witnessed tangible results.
Two major operations, facilitated by the AI technology, led to the seizure of 13,000 pounds of fentanyl precursor chemicals and the apprehension of 284 individuals.
Another operation resulted in the confiscation of 10,000 pounds of finished fentanyl.
According to Altana, the company provides a private copy of Atlas for the CBP, which incorporates billions of transactions and data from 450 million companies, as well as proprietary information from the federal agency.
While the specifics of Altana’s tracking methods remain secret, the company has been successful in uncovering relationships between suppliers and manufacturers involved in the drug trade.
Ana Hinojosa, a former CBP executive director, lauded the use of the technology as a possible turning point in the opioid epidemic.
“AI has changed the game. It can make faster analysis than humans could make alone — spotting changes in trade patterns and participating parties,” Hinojosa said.
According to Smith, Atlas is available for use by CPB agents across the country.
“There is no greater validation of our efforts than being awarded a contract by the world’s most important supply chain regulator, and we couldn’t be more proud to support this essential mission,” Smith said of the partnership.
