January 16, 2009, 12:25 p.m.
RYN GARGULINSKI
Tucson Citizen
United States Customs and Border Protection has added a high-tech tool to its arsenal combatting smugglers, bandits and others looking to illegally hop the border.

The Mobile Surveillance System made its public debut Friday at a press conference at Tucson Sector Headquarters, 2430 S. Swan Road. It uses radar and cameras to scan the terrain for illegal activity.

"Before, it was like looking through a straw," Chief Patrol Agent Robert Gilbert said of sweeping a swath of the desert through telescopes or binoculars. "An agent would have limited distance.

"Now the radar can do a 180-degree sweep of an area every 10 seconds."

The front of the unit resembles a pickup, while the back is equipped with an adjustable 18-foot mast containing a radar detection device and a day and night vision camera.

Border Patrol can position it anywhere it's needed to sweep terrain. The radar can pinpoint movement in a seven-mile range, while agents in the unit home in to see what it is.

Once the activity is identified, patrol units can be sent out to deal with it, Gilbert said.

All radar activity can be viewed on a screen that can keep track of one individual or several groups at one time, he said.


Check back later for more details.

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