China-made signal jammers being smuggled into US pose threat to police response during crimes: DHS

The number of Chinese signal-jamming devices being smuggled into the U.S. has significantly increased in the past several years, posing a great threat to police response to crimes, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The number has increased by 830% since 2021, the agency said Wednesday, The Washington Times reported.

The agency also said the devices, being smuggled by illegal migrants, can disrupt a range of radio frequency channels and also pose a threat to critical infrastructure. DHS said.

Illegal immigrants from South America have used jammers to disrupt calls to local police during home invasions or bank robberies, per. And they have been used in connection to crimes in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and Virginia, the agency also says. 

Texas law enforcement authorities in February seized a signal jammer while arresting a Chilean illegal immigrant. 

“Signal jammers have been used by illegal aliens across the country to jam communications during police operations, bank robberies, burglaries, and other dangerous crimes,” a DHS spokesperson said. “As Chinese manufacturers attempt to smuggle signal jammers, we will continue to seize these tools of terrorism.”

The non-government importation, operation, marketing and sale of signal jamming equipment could also interfere GPS signals and radar, which is prohibited by federal law.

Electronic signal jammers are offered for sale online, from $50 to $32,000, with the capability to jam signals ranging from GPS, cell phone, Bluetooth and drone aircraft signals.