Use of electronics to detect if a package is opened

Has anyone ever used something like Raspberry Pi or Arduino combined with some kind of sensor to detect if a package is opened? It looks like you can get cellular modules for both (so you could send an email if the sensor goes off). Would it be possible to use a light sensor to detect if a package is opened and if so to send a message over cellular? It might be complex to setup but I don't think it would be expensive.

EDIT: in case it wasn't obvious I'm not talking about for personal amounts of drugs I'm talking about vendors importing large amounts of drugs into countries with strict customs.


Comments


[6 Points] endedbytheknife:

Okay, so you use something to message you. You need service, so that means you need to pay for it somewhere. They could track it to where it was purchased and hope you failed on opsec and catch the person on film buying it. You'd have to make sure it's completely tight on that part

send a message

using SMS or app? if it's SMS, which number are you going to send it to? Burner phone? Then you gotta dump the phone and hope you had tight opsec buying the phone as stated above. If it's a dumb phone, they'd be able to find your general location to the nearest cell tower using the pings.

If it's a messaging app, you'd burn that receiving account too cause then they'd have that logged.

It might be complex to setup but I don't think it would be expensive

$20 for sim card to send message?

$40+ for Rpi + kits

$50 for burner phone + service for burner phone?

at the very least $100.


[2 Points] throwahooawayyfoe:

Sure, it would be possible. But do you really want to add an extra $60-100 onto the cost of just the shipping? IMO, something like that would really only be finacially feasible for very high-value packs.


[2 Points] uncle_espeon:

Interesting idea. I think the cell phone would draw a lot of attention. Also it wouldn't surprise me if customs uses some IMSI catcher type device at their facilities to monitor cell phone traffic for situations like this, among others. There's just not really any reason to ship a cell phone thats turned on.

The light sensor is a cool idea. What if you could have some sort of light or oxygen sensor inside the innermost seal in the package. This would be connected to some other device mechanically or electronically. Upon the first device (the light or oxygen sensor) being triggered, the secondary device would produce a very subtle change to the exterior of the package, via chemical reaction, electric current, or even blotting a tiny amount of ink. Something very, very, very subtle that's basically undetectable to someone unaware, yet if you knew what to look for, it would stand out instantly.

For example, the name Jr (without a period) changing to Jr. (with a period). Or the last name Smith Anderson changing to Smith-Anderson. Or a randomly placed dot somewhere on one of the shipping labels on the package. Stuff like that.

This way, when they attempt delivery, the recipient could quickly examine the package for that mark prior to accepting the package. If it's there, they know not to accept it. Since the mark would be so incredibly subtle, it's very likely the official wouldn't have picked up on the difference before vs after seizing the package (which would have triggered the sensors when he opened it in order to identify the contraband).

More or less the same idea as yours, but would be entirely self contained, and equally anonymous as the sender's regular methods. If you got clever with materials used and the way you "layered" them, could also be designed in order to produce zero signature on X ray.


[2 Points] _PrinterPam_:

You're not seeing the forest because of all the trees in the way.

If you mean checking it on the receiving end (your post doesn't make this clear): If LE is going to run a controlled delivery on you, your door will come crashing down before you have time to plug-in your snazzy device and check.

On the sending end: Your supplier will never (yes, I'm saying 'never') do any of this. After all, seized packages aren't 'his problem.' He's either already been paid or will wait-out an auto-finalzation window while you're sitting in a jail cell.


[1 Points] Badbae4096:

Snowden developed an anti-intrusion app for Android, just repurpose a phone?


[1 Points] XmrFanMan:

How about invisible ink under the tape seal? Much cheaper, and less to link back to you and less to likely to fail.


[1 Points] Mcdoublecoin:

I feel like it only makes more interest in the package and more room to make mistakes. Tracking the purchase location off a mislooked serial number and so on.


[1 Points] locofloco:

It would be feasible if you use "haven" and big power packs, because it will run dry if you don't have enough power for several days, international obviously more.

The thing is, these things will be very suspicious if the customs x-ray a pack.