News
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Drug Labs Are Becoming a Public Safety Risk for Local Communities
Drug labs are increasingly becoming a neighbourhood safety issue. According to the Dutch Police, in 2025 authorities identified 142 locations in the Netherlands where synthetic drugs, heroin and/or cocaine, were being produced. The same report notes that 88 locations were linked to synthetic drug production such as MDMA, methamphetamine and amphetamine. This shows how illicit…
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PENTION at the Projects to Policy Seminar 2026
Last week, PENTION joined dozens of fellow Horizon Europe security projects in Brussels for the Projects to Policy Seminar, organised by European Commission’s DG HOME and European Research Executive Agency (REA). Across two intense days, we sat down with projects working on fighting crime and terrorism, border management, disaster-resilient societies and resilient infrastructure, each tackling…
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Industrial-Scale Drug Labs in Europe Highlight the Need for Early Detection
Industrial-scale clandestine labs are no longer isolated events. In April 2025, Europol reported the dismantling of a massive synthetic drug laboratory in Bree, Belgium, with the capacity to produce hundreds of kilos of synthetic drugs per month. The operation involved Belgian police, the Lab Dismantling Team, forensic specialists and Europol. This highlights a key operational…
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The European Drug Market Is Changing: Why Detection Technologies Must Evolve
The European drug market is changing, and detection must change with it. The European Union Drugs Agency’s Report 2025 highlights that drug availability remains high across substance types, with a wider range of high-potency and novel substances creating growing health and security risks. For authorities, this means one major challenge: how to identify what is…
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PENTION Presented at European Commission Workshop on Research and Innovation Against Illicit Drugs
PENTION project was presented at the European Commission’s CERIS workshop on research and innovation against illicit drugs. On 5–6 May 2026, the European Commission hosted the workshop “Research and innovation against illicit drugs: from foresight to operational impact” in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, EU agencies, researchers, civil society and industry to discuss how EU-funded…
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PENTION at EUROPOL’s Headquarters
Last week, PENTION joined Europol’s annual networking and alignment meeting bringing together Horizon Europe security projects at Europol’s Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. The event was a great opportunity to present the PENTION project to law enforcement agencies, EU institutions and fellow Horizon Europe projects, and to explore synergies with other cutting-edge security research…
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#PENTIONPartners – Meet Netherlands Police
We conclude our #PENTIONPartners series with the Netherlands Police (NP). As a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA), NP plays a key role in providing operational expertise, realistic use cases, and end-user validation of PENTION technology. Their involvement ensures that the project outcomes are practical, compliant, and effective in real-world security scenarios, bridging innovation and field implementation.
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#PENTIONPartners – Meet University of Sannio
Our fifth spotlight is on the Department of Engineering at the University of Sannio (USA), Italy. USA is a leading academic hub in computer engineering, data science and artificial intelligence, with a strong track record of collaboration with industrial and academic partners. Within PENTION, USA contributes cutting-edge research in AI-enabled systems, data fusion, and intelligent…
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#PENTIONPartners – Meet Precision Plus Consulting Ltd
This week we feature Precision Plus Consulting Ltd (PPC), a UK-based SME supporting innovators in the defense, security, and counter-narcotics sectors. PPC brings deep insight into market strategies and technology deployment to ensure that new detection systems can reach operational readiness. Their contribution to business development, market exploitation and strategic guidance is key for PENTION’s…
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#PENTIONPartners – Meet Innovative Technologies Inc
Introducing Innovative Technologies Inc (ITI), a Canadian SME with strong expertise in chemical detection technologies and air sampling methodologies. ITI plays a vital role in enhancing PENTION’s detection capabilities across diverse scenarios: from cargo inspection to environmental monitoring. Their innovative approach ensures PENTION’s technology achieves high accuracy and adaptability in real-world security applications.