Narcotics Detection Equipment Global Market Report 2025

The narcotics detection equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.76 billion in 2024 to $3.97 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing cross-border drug trafficking activities, increasing government funding for anti-narcotics operations, growing awareness about public health hazards of drug abuse, a rising number of airport and seaport inspections, and increasing demand from customs and border control agencies.

The narcotics detection equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.05 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for real-time non-invasive detection tools, rising demand for multi-substance detection in a single scan, increasing demand for real-time drug detection technologies, increasing adoption of dual-use devices for explosives and narcotics, and rising incidence of drug-related crimes. Major trends in the forecast period include technology advancements in ion mobility spectrometry, developing portable multi-sensor devices, developing cloud-based narcotics tracking platforms, integration of biometrics with narcotics detection systems, and innovation in wearable drug detection devices.

The forecast of 6.2% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.4% from the previous estimate for this market. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through increased costs for drug-screening systems, primarily supplied by the UK and Sweden, straining budgets for law enforcement and border security agencies. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The rising incidence of drug-related crimes is expected to drive the growth of the narcotics detection equipment market moving forward. Drug-related crimes involve illegal activities such as the manufacturing, distribution, possession, or use of controlled substances, often leading to serious legal and social consequences. This increase in drug-related crimes is mainly due to the expansion of global drug trafficking networks, which enable the large-scale and rapid movement of illegal substances across borders. Narcotics detection equipment supports the fight against these crimes by utilizing advanced sensing technologies that enhance law enforcement capabilities. These devices improve security and safety in both public and private spaces by allowing quick and accurate identification of illicit substances. For example, in July 2024, Statistics Canada reported that property and drug offenses increased by 3% in 2023, a 5% rise from 2022. Consequently, the growing incidence of drug-related crimes is fueling the expansion of the narcotics detection equipment market.

Key players in the narcotics detection equipment market are focusing on developing cutting-edge solutions like portable trace detection systems to improve the accuracy and speed of on-site drug identification. Portable trace detection systems are compact, mobile devices designed to detect trace amounts of substances such as explosives, narcotics, chemicals, or biological agents in real time, commonly used in security, defense, and forensic fields. For instance, in October 2024, Scanna MSC Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer, introduced the Itemiser 5X, which enables rapid and reliable detection of explosives and narcotics in high-security settings. This system uses advanced software algorithms and optimized detection libraries to identify trace substances in just eight seconds. It features a non-radioactive ionization source, eliminating licensing and shipping restrictions, and includes automated internal calibration for ease of use.

In September 2022, Bertin Technologies SAS, a France-based high-tech industrial company, acquired Environics Oy for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen Bertin Technologies’ position as a leading European provider of advanced chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) detection and monitoring solutions, expand its footprint in the Nordic region, and enhance its capabilities in delivering comprehensive crisis management technologies. Environics Oy, based in Finland, specializes in chemical detection and provides CBRN solutions, including narcotics detection equipment.

Narcotics detection equipment consists of specialized tools designed to identify and analyze illegal drugs or controlled substances. These devices employ various techniques such as chemical analysis, vapor detection, and imaging to detect narcotics in places like airports, border checkpoints, and law enforcement environments. Their primary purpose is to enhance security, curb drug trafficking, and aid law enforcement in combating the illegal distribution of narcotics.

The main categories of narcotics detection equipment include portable and fixed detection devices. Portable detection equipment refers to easily transportable devices that identify and measure specific substances or conditions across different environments. Technologies incorporated in these devices include ion mobility spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, among others. These tools find broad use in law enforcement, customs and border security, as well as medical settings, with end-users ranging from government agencies to commercial and industrial sectors.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp escalation of U.S. tariffs and resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the electrical and electronics sector. Key components such as semiconductors, display panels, and rare-earth metals crucial for batteries and motors are now facing heavy duties. Consumer electronics companies are seeing profit margins shrink, as fierce competition makes it difficult to pass on rising costs to consumers. At the same time, industrial electronics firms are experiencing project delays due to shortages of tariff-impacted parts like printed circuit boards. In response, businesses are shifting assembly operations to tariff-exempt nations, building up inventory reserves, and redesigning products to reduce reliance on restricted materials.

The narcotics detection equipment market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides narcotics detection equipment market statistics, including narcotics detection equipment industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a narcotics detection equipment market share, narcotics detection equipment market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the narcotics detection equipment industry. This narcotics detection equipment market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Major players in the narcotics detection equipment market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Safran S.A., Campbell Or Harris Security Equipment Company, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., Smiths Group plc, Bruker Corporation, OSI Systems Inc, Teledyne FLIR LLC, Chemring Group, Nuctech Company Limited, Kromek Group plc, Autoclear LLC, DetectaChem LLC, Bertin Technologies SAS, 908 Devices Inc., Scanna Msc Ltd, Spectral Engines Oy, and Point Security Inc.

North America was the largest region in the narcotics detection equipment market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in narcotics detection equipment report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the narcotics detection equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The narcotics detection equipment market consists of sales of handheld detectors, drug detection canine kits, portable analyzers, explosive trace detectors, gas chromatographs, raman spectrometers, and X-ray scanners. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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