Modern vehicles are equipped with an array of cameras, microphones, and advanced sensors that enhance their intelligence. These technologies enable vehicles to detect and prevent potential collisions, assess driver fatigue, monitor blind spots, and even assist in preventing unwitting involvement in drug trafficking schemes. A recent Ford patent, filed in March 2023 and published on September 19, introduces an 'unknown cargo detection and evidence collection system' aimed at protecting vehicle owners from becoming 'blind mules' for drug traffickers.
Blind mules are individuals unknowingly transporting drugs across borders, a common tactic used by traffickers to smuggle contraband into the United States without risking their own freedom. Ford's proposed system utilizes the vehicle's sensors and cameras to monitor various indicators, such as changes in vehicle weight, suspicious sounds, and unfamiliar GPS radio frequencies. If the system detects unusual activity, like someone lingering near the vehicle, it can activate the cameras to record and store footage as evidence.
Any significant weight added to the vehicle, such as several hundred pounds of drugs, would alter its driving characteristics, which the system would also monitor. However, like other patents, this technology is currently just a concept, and companies often protect intellectual property without necessarily implementing it. The rise of fentanyl has introduced new challenges, as smaller quantities of the drug can be smuggled more easily. Additionally, relay attacks used by thieves to steal vehicles could potentially provide drug dealers with access to millions of trunks.
