The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) recently welcomed Inspector Todd Southall, Coordinator of the Pacific Detector Dog Programme (PDDP), along with Senior Project Officer Ms. Fiona McPhail, for a courtesy visit.
During the meeting, the PDDP team engaged with FRCS CEO Mr. Udit Singh, Ms. Shelini Kumar, Director of Customs and Border, and Mr. Marika Vuniyayawa, Chief Customs Officer for Intelligence and Border Compliance. The discussions primarily focused on enhancing the collaboration between the FRCS and the New Zealand PDDP, particularly in support of Fiji’s dog unit.
Key topics of discussion included the planned expansion of the canine unit in Savusavu and Nadi, an upcoming conference, new training and capacity-building initiatives, and other K9 operations on the horizon.
The PDDP, managed by New Zealand Police with assistance from the New Zealand Customs Service and funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, aims to strengthen the detection capabilities of border authority Detector Dog Units in Fiji and other Pacific Island nations.
The program not only provides trained dogs and comprehensive training for handlers but also works to enhance leadership, systems, legal enforcement, and prosecution skills concerning the interception of illegal goods, primarily drugs.
Inspector Southall commended the Fiji Customs Detector Dog Unit for its impressive demonstration of capabilities vital to a robust K9 program, highlighting the program’s success reflected in numerous drug seizures in recent years. FRCS CEO Mr. Singh expressed appreciation for the ongoing support, guidance, and collaboration from the PDDP team.