As the United States (U.S.) establishes better control of the border, traffickers and smugglers continue to develop advanced methods and employ new tactics to counter enforcement technology. Investigating how emerging technologies in aerial surveillance and detection AS&D might be applied to border security and the potential implications of fielding such technology by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will provide a foundation for countering this evolving threat. This thesis examines possible contributions of such technology to the mission of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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