Four narcotics and explosives Detector Dogs, bred and trained by the Australian Border Force (ABF), will soon be protecting the community in Singapore after being hand-picked by the Singapore Police Force K-9 Unit.
Commanding Officer, Soh Puay Hwee, and Station Inspector, Chia Chee spent several days at the ABF’s National Detector Dog Facility near Bulla, Victoria in September to inspect and observe dozens of dogs.
The four dogs that were purchased from the Detector Dog Program (DDP), Queeta, Major, Simba and Shilo, flew out for Singapore today.
Source: The Australian Border Force Image Library
ABF Superintendent Rod Winchester said the strong interest from international partners shows how highly ABF detector dogs are regarded overseas.
“Each year, the ABF sends up to 20 dogs to overseas partner law enforcement agencies and so far this year we have provided four dogs to Japan Customs and another two to New Zealand Customs with requests also from Indonesia and Hong Kong,” Superintendent Winchester said.
“Our Detector Dog teams play a vital role in our enforcement capability at the border and, last year made over 2400 detections of illicit substances and prohibited items across Australia’s airports, sea ports and postal gateways.”
ABF Detector Dogs are trained to search for narcotics and drug precursors, currency, explosives, firearms and tobacco.
The DDP also breeds and trains Labrador Retrievers for local agencies including the Australian Federal Police, State Police and Correction Services and the Australian Defence Force.
For further information about the ABF Detector Dog Program or to apply to become a foster carer, visit the ABF website.
