I'm writing a thriller in which the antagonist is trying to smuggle about a hundred pounds or so of weapon-grade uranium from Mexico into the United States. I want to depict him considering two different methods: sending it by air-cargo vs. taking it across the border either on foot or in a vehicle (he also considers sneaking across an unguarded section of the border, coyote style, but he is under a severe time constraint and he thinks that will take too long, and he does not know the local area very well, nor does he speak Spanish). The uranium is separated into about 5 small units, and the containers have some home-made shielding on them, but nothing high-tech. He has about a dozen people helping him. So I have a couple of questions:
1. What kind of routine examination does US Customs subject international air cargo to? When, where and how does it pass customs?
2. Same question for the border crossing. Do they have radiation detectors in place for all lanes going into the US?
3. Finally, I like to be really thorough when I show this character engaging in planning. What kind of paperwork or other barriers will he have to concern himself with in order to get contraband into the US?
Is there any realistic way he can pull this off?
1. What kind of routine examination does US Customs subject international air cargo to? When, where and how does it pass customs?
2. Same question for the border crossing. Do they have radiation detectors in place for all lanes going into the US?
3. Finally, I like to be really thorough when I show this character engaging in planning. What kind of paperwork or other barriers will he have to concern himself with in order to get contraband into the US?
Is there any realistic way he can pull this off?