Whack-a-mole: U.S. chases elusive currency-detection technology

The U.S. thinks that technology will solve every problem. More than a billion dollars was spent on a "virtual border fence" that doesn't work and was scrapped. 

U.S. chases elusive currency-detection technology | Reuters: "To combat money laundering and contain the drug war raging along the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. authorities are seeking technology to detect the hoards of cash that smugglers try to spirit abroad.

But as results come in on initial development efforts, it is uncertain whether the technology is within reach.

'Right now we don't know if it's even feasible to make it work,' said John Verrico, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's and Technology Directorate. 'There is a whole lot that has to be considered before we can say we have viable technology.' ...

Three companies were granted $100,000 "phase one" contracts in October to complete feasibility studies, Verrico said. The firms, Lattice Government Services Inc, Intelligent Automation Inc, and Connecticut Analytical Corp. completed their studies last week.

DHS will soon begin reviewing the companies' reports to decide whether there are any ideas worth pursuing, Verrico said. If the agency decides to move forward, one or more prototypes will be built and field-tested.

"We will evaluate them over the next 30 to 60 days before we make any further decisions on 'phase two,'" he said."