The city is a new device that enables the police and customs authorities soon have much greater accuracy of drug detection. The NarcoReader has been developed by researchers at the University of Antwerp, and in less than 40 seconds to determine which of the compounds in an unknown substance is stuck.
the Police and the customs authorities are investing a lot of time and money in the detection of illegal drugs. Reports of drugsvondsten in the port of Antwerp are nearly a daily occurrence, and during the past summer, was the subject matter well up to date in the dance festival, Tomorrowland. Regularly walk, smugglers, dealers, and users from the lamp, but, of course, is the fight against the illegal drug trade have nothing to do with.
False positives
in order To successes, it is of great importance in the detection and identification of illicit drugs in an efficient manner. Today, the police and customs, on-the-spot, even with a simple kleurentesten is based on a chemical reaction.
“However, there are several drawbacks in doing so”, says prof Karolien De Wael, of the department of Chemistry of the UAntwerpen, who is coordinating the project. “A number of innocuous substances, for example, a fading, just as in the case of cocaine. The result, therefore, it is apparent, often after a costly audit in the laboratory – false-positive. The accuracy of the test for cocaine is only about 70 percent of the time.”
(electro -) chemical sensor –
“We are working on a technology in which an electro-chemical sensor,” adds professor Wael continue. “With this device, the NarcoReader, uses an electrode material with a small electrical pulse through the sample. Within forty-five seconds appears to be the result of the test on the paired smartphone or tablet. The NarcoReader will put an end to the many false-positives and false-negatives. The device has an accuracy level of 98%, so got to test it to use it in the lab, too.”
To use the new technology to develop, invest, Europe and 5.5 million in the BorderSens of the project. The UAntwerpen co-ordinates the work of a consortium of sixteen partners from eight EU member states to bundle. The partnership includes the universities, the border authorities, police, ports, airports, organizations such as the National Institute for Forensics and Criminology, and a number of companies.
“great potential”
The customs and the police departments in the NarcoReader going to try it out, be enthusiastic. “Today’s drug tests are often inadequate, and we have, therefore, been looking for a way to make a more valid analysis of the substances, to be able to do it,” said a representative of the European douanegemeenschap, who prefers to remain anonymous. “The NarcoReader has a lot of potential and could be a valuable tool in the fight against drug trafficking, for example, in the port of Antwerp. Or in the centre of Brussels, where the deal, or, aircargo also, drugs arrive.”
The NarcoReader been used extensively and successfully tested for the detection of cocaine in a laboratory setting. The device, which is in the hand perfectly, will be in the next few years in various European countries, tested in the field.
