TECS stands for "Treasury Enforcement Communications System." It is a database used by law enforcement agencies, including the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to manage and share information related to national security, law enforcement, and border control. The Gumshoes clue likely refers to the popular educational video game series "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?", where players act as gumshoe detectives to track down the elusive thief Carmen Sandiego.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: P.I.s, e.g.. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.