DHS Launches Massive “Less Lethal” Chemical Weapons Buying Spree

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is preparing to spend up to $50 million procuring 123 different types of "less lethal" chemical weapons and munitions across 10 categories, according to procurement documents reviewed by The Intercept. The order includes over 242,000 hand-delivered pyrotechnic canisters, 100,000 rounds of impact munitions, and 13,000 distortion devices capable of emitting 175-decibel sounds—louder than a jet engine. The arsenal expands CBP's existing stockpile of tear gas (CS and OC), rubber-ball grenades, and ferret rounds designed to penetrate walls and buildings, weapons researchers say have caused serious injuries including permanent blindness in other countries. Emergency physician Rohini Haar and other experts questioned whether federal agents can be adequately trained to use such a diverse array of weapons, each with different technical specifications and deployment methods. Neither CBP nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to requests for comment on the purchase.