Sniffex

Sniffex is a now debunked, portable explosives detection system produced by Homeland Safety International.[1] Sniffex Plus is now sold from Germany by Unival Security.[2]

An article in The Dallas Morning News in April 2007 explained that Sniffex is a divining rod and states that "In a test by the U.S. Navy, Sniffex didn't register when two trucks passed within 20 feet, hauling a half ton of explosives."[3] The Navy's counterterrorism technology task force tested Sniffex and concluded "The Sniffex handheld explosives detector does not work."[3] Despite this, the military bought eight for $50,000.[3]

Although high performance is claimed in advertising for Sniffex, such claims have not been verified by objective double blind testing.[4] Although the tests were conducted at a public meeting [5] by the president of the company, Sniffex did not detect test explosives when the user did not know in advance where they were located. Additionally, James Randi publicly called into question the validity of Sniffex and exchanged correspondence with the CEO offering one million dollars if Sniffex can do what the press releases claim.[6]

The Sniffex device must not be confused with SniffEx, a prize-winning sensor developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL).[7] That sensor was originally called "Sniffex" until Homeland Safety International enforced its trademark and asked ORNL to stop using the name.[4]

In July 2008 the Securities and Exchange Commission filed lawsuits against six company officers for driving "the share price from 80 cents to about $6 by issuing 33 news releases that contained mostly false information about the product and the company's financial situation to earn a combined $32 million in illegal profits."[8] In mid-July one suit was settled.[8] In addition, the SEC charged Homeland Safety International, promoters of Sniffex, "of being little more than the front for a $32 million stock fraud scheme that enriched insiders at the expense of unsuspecting investors".[9] The SEC complaint said the company "installed a figurehead CEO, named Paul B. Johnson, to hide the involvement of two Bulgarian residents who actually controlled the company" and "then issued a series of what the SEC alleges were false press releases."[9] One of the press releases included a claim of "'impressive'" results from tests conducted by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. In reality, the tests were conducted by Johnson himself and the results were inconclusive".[9] While the stocks rose the insiders sold, and the stock was trading at one tenth of a penny as of July 17, 2008.[9] In July Mark B. Lindberg settled with SEC and a week later pled guilty to wire fraud.[10] [11]

The HEDD1,[12] reportedly a "Sniffex with a battery stuck on it,"[13] is marketed by Unival Group of Bonn, the same company that markets Sniffex in Europe.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Michael Grabell (17 July 2008). "Bomb Sniffing Scam Exposed". Wired. http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/07/bomb-sniffing-s.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  2. ^ a b "Sniffex Europe". Unival Group. http://www.sniffex-eu.com/index.html. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
  3. ^ a b c Irving-based firm's device, stock trades under scrutiny Dallas Morning News, Monday, April 16, 2007
  4. ^ a b Sniffex fails a double blind test at a public demonstration (includes video clips)
  5. ^ Seventh Annual Tourism Safety & Security Conference, Anaheim, CA, 4/2006
  6. ^ James Randi (February 23, 2007). "Sniffex Report". James Randi Educational Foundation. http://www.randi.org/jr/2007-02/022307sniffex.html#i1. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  7. ^ ORNL inventions win three 'Research and Development 100s
  8. ^ a b Michael Grabell (15 July 2008). "SEC settles two lawsuits against Coppell man". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/071608dnbussec.40f111b.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  9. ^ a b c d "SEC: Bomb Detector—Bought by Military—Was Front for Scam". Pro Publica. 17 July 2008. http://www.propublica.org/feature/sec-bomb-detector-bought-by-military-was-front-for-scam-717/. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  10. ^ "Coppell man pleads guilty in wire fraud". TradingMarkets.com. 24 July 2008. http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1780635/. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  11. ^ SEC. Securities and Exchange Commission, DOJ Department Of Justice (10 February 2009). "Five Individuals Indicted for Devising and Participating in Stock Manipulation Scheme". PR Newswire. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20090210.DC69359&show_article=1&catnum=0. Retrieved 2009-02-16. 
  12. ^ "HEDD®1 - Handheld Explosive Detection Device". Unival Group. http://www.hedd1.com/.  Also: "Hazard Detection Group Explosives Detection Device HEDD1". http://www.hazard-detection.com/. Retrieved Jan. 21, 2010. 
  13. ^ "What Is Newer Than ADE 651 GT200 And H3 Tec? Is it HEDD1?". Sniffexquestions Blog. Jan. 14, 2010. http://sniffexquestions.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-is-newer-than-ade-651-gt200-and-h3.html. 

External links