Contraband detection systems and methods

1. A system for detecting a barrel of a weapon in a container, the system comprising:

a CT scanner operative to perform a CT scan of a container;

a conveyor for advancing a container through the CT scanner;

a host processor in communication with the CT scanner and operative to receive CT data from the CT scanner; and

a detection processor in communication with the host processor and operative to:

reconstruct slice data;

analyze the slice data to determine if at least one of a hollow circular shape and an oval shape of a known diameter exists, the shape being surrounded by metal or dense plastic;

if the shape does not exist, then determine if the detection processor has analyzed the last slice for the container;

if the detection processor has not analyzed the last slice for the container, then analyzing the next slice to determine if at least one of a hollow circular shape and an oval shape of a known diameter exists, the shape being surrounded by metal or dense plastic; and

if the detection processor has analyzed the last slice for the container, then determining that no weapon was found in the container.