The Use of Microfluidics to Combat Fuel Crime (Catching Mr Big with the Small)

Abstract

Taxation on fuels is an incentive for crime syndicates to set up smuggling and laundering groups that extract billions of dollars from the global economy every year. This crime falls into three categories, adulteration, grade swapping and tax evasion e.g. smuggling. In order to combat these crimes Authentix has developed and installed advanced microfluidic systems to test the fuel. Our system allows efficient marker testing in-field and we have demonstrated consistent extractions under a variety of conditions. Although microfluidics drives the technical engine of the testing program, our multi-million dollar success in these areas is also related to our ability to bring about legal enforcement. This is done through wide-scale testing and control programs.