Sensing

The Netherlands is a small country, but big in terms of production and trafficking of synthetic drugs. Especially amphetamines and MDMA. In fact, Dutch criminals are global leaders, with networks and business practices all over the world. It is a multi-billion-dollar business, forming a highly attractive shadow economy. Production of these drugs takes place in remote locations, in barns on farms, but also in residential areas where production sites are hidden in basements and attics.

The Technologies for Criminal Investigations Research Group is developing methods that can help detect such illegal synthetic drug laboratories in suspect areas. This uses satellite data to pinpoint suspicious locations, chemical sensors under a drone to study such areas in detail and handheld devices to monitor locations as well as vehicles on the ground.