Customs Department Bolsters Drug Suppression Efforts with Canine Reinforcements

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded

 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has donated two Labrador Retriever detection dogs, Viking and Paddy, to the Thai Customs Department to strengthen frontline drug suppression efforts. The handover ceremony took place on December 4, at the Customs K-9 Training Centre in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan.

 

Presided over by Thai Customs Director-General Thirachai Attanavanich, the event welcomed key figures including Bjorn Robert, representative of ABF’s Detector Dog Program, and Superintendent Michael Cymbalista, ABF Counsellor for the Mekong region. Also present were executives from the Thai Customs Department and partnering agencies.

 

Director-General Thirachai highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Thailand and Australia in combating drug trafficking. The cooperation was formalized through the ABF–Thai Customs Detector Dog Cooperation 2024–2027 agreement signed on September 25, 2024. Following this, two Thai Customs officers participated in the ABF’s Basic Detector Dog Team Training Course in Melbourne from September 16 to November 8, 2024.

 

The donation of the highly trained dogs is a testament to the ABF’s commitment to supporting Thai Customs in preventing the illegal trafficking of narcotics. “This partnership reflects our shared goal to combat the smuggling of drugs and precursors effectively,” said Thirachai.

 

For the 2024 fiscal year, Thai Customs recorded significant achievements in narcotics suppression, seizing drugs worth 77.94 million baht in 40 cases, along with 1,327 kilograms of cannabis valued at over 13.27 million baht across 199 cases. The addition of Viking and Paddy is expected to enhance these efforts further, boosting operational efficiency and ensuring public safety.

 

Director-General Thirachai also urged the public to exercise caution during the Christmas and New Year period, a time often exploited by criminals for drug smuggling. He warned against accepting packages or travel offers from unknown parties, as these could involve unwitting participation in illegal activities.

 

The introduction of Viking and Paddy marks another milestone in the enduring cooperation between Thai and Australian authorities, strengthening their mutual resolve to combat transnational crime and enhance border security for both nations.

 

-- 2024-12-05

 

 

[Briggsy]

We have been down this road many times before. Foreign police department donates highly trained detection dogs to Thai Customs/Police etc.

 

The dogs are then not used as it is lambaak to have to transport them around and look after them 24-7.

 

They will just be dumped in a kennel or compound somewhere as has always happened previously.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, Briggsy said:

We have been down this road many times before. Foreign police department donates highly trained detection dogs to Thai Customs/Police etc.

 

The dogs are then not used as it is lambaak to have to transport them around and look after them 24-7.

 

They will just be dumped in a kennel or compound somewhere as has always happened previously.

 

Not 'always happened'.

We had a 'sniffer dog' (German Shepherd) for some years here at Samui Airport.

He was a friendly little chap.

Sadly, age has taken its toll.