The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) welcomed a visit from Inspector Todd Southall, the Coordinator of the Pacific Detector Dog Programme (PDDP), along with Senior Project Officer Ms. Fiona McPhail.
During the visit, the PDDP team engaged with FRCS leadership, including CEO Mr. Udit Singh, Director of Customs and Border Ms. Shelini Kumar, and Chief Customs Officer for Intelligence and Border Compliance Mr. Marika Vuniyayawa. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing partnership between the FRCS and the New Zealand PDDP, particularly in supporting Fiji’s dog unit.
Discussions included plans for expanding the canine unit in Savusavu and Nadi, upcoming conferences, new training initiatives, capacity-building efforts, and various planned K9 operations. The PDDP is overseen by the New Zealand Customs Service and New Zealand Police and is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. This program enhances the detection capabilities of border authorities in Fiji and other Pacific Island nations.
The program not only supplies trained dogs and comprehensive training for dog handlers but also strengthens leadership, legal enforcement, and prosecution resources related to intercepting illegal goods, primarily drugs.
Thanks to the program’s efficiency, numerous drug seizures have taken place in recent years. Inspector Southall commended the Fiji Customs Detector Dog Unit for showcasing the necessary skills indicative of a robust K9 unit.
The FRCS CEO expressed appreciation to the PDDP team for their continued support, guidance, and collaboration.