The Mossos d'Esquadra are introducing 14 portable Near Infra Red (NIR) scanners to identify substances and determine purity in as little as five seconds. Valued at €177,800, the investment is intended to ease pressure on the police's forensic chemistry units, where drug-related analyses currently account for nearly all laboratory work.
Procurement documents say the new NIR readers will go to basic and regional units of the Scientific Police Division. The devices, which incorporate artificial intelligence software, were tested in a pilot project at the Mossos' central headquarters earlier this year. The pilot confirmed they could detect THC in marijuana, along with cocaine and heroin, in 0.1 to 5 seconds, far faster than traditional laboratory methods.
The backlog in drug sample analysis has delayed the processing of other forensic evidence, including material from sexual assault cases and from cases involving fires, homicides or shootings. The central drug storage facility in Nou Barris, Barcelona, has become saturated, largely because marijuana testing is slow. The new technology is expected to ease these bottlenecks and let forensic teams redirect resources to other urgent investigations.
The contract for the 14 devices was signed with Target Tecnología on August 19, with a 90-day delivery window. The Mossos have not disclosed when the equipment will become operational or how it will change laboratory workflows. The purchase follows a broader effort to upgrade technology within the Scientific Police Division, including the recent outsourcing of 4,000 DNA sample analyses and the purchase of advanced machinery for DNA extraction and quantification.
The Mossos have also modernized their ballistics unit, adding equipment to determine shooting distances alongside a laser environment reader and a high-speed camera. The Evofinder system, now in use, automates bullet identification and links cases involving firearms, responding to the rising use of guns in Catalonia. The adoption of new technology echoes broader efforts in Spain to integrate AI and sensor-based tools into public safety, including Madrid's deployment of wildlife monitoring sensors, detailed in recent coverage of Madrid's AI-powered urban wildlife tracking.
Forensic science in Spain has faced growing demands in recent years, as drug seizures and violent crime investigations stretch laboratory capacity. The Mossos' investment in rapid drug analysis technology reflects a shift toward automation and digital tools to maintain efficiency and accuracy. As law enforcement agencies across Europe adopt similar solutions, the Catalan police's experience could offer a model for other regions seeking to modernize forensic operations and reduce investigative delays.
