Customs Administration (CA), Ministry of Finance, has recently launched a cooperative canine (K-9) training project with the Military Police Command (MPC), Ministry of Defense. A commissioned ceremony of K-9 teams, followed by an operational demonstration, was held in the Song-yuan barracks. Representatives from CA, led by Chief Secretary Lin, Jin-Huang attended the ceremony. MPC Commander Lieutenant-General Huang, Chin-Tsai presided over the ceremony and stressed that this cooperative framework as well as the aid of K-9 teams would allow MPC to enhance its capability on drug detection and maintaining military discipline in the near future.

　　Under the request of Executive Yuan Premier Su and the policy of “New Generation Anti-drug Strategy”, the cooperative training framework was signed on Aug. 27, 2019. In this 4-year program, CA would assist MPC in establishing their K-9 teams by providing qualified green dogs, professional training, and holding training courses in venues of both sides to construct the capability on MPC’s K-9 expertise and incubate their professionals. During the initial phase with a goal of establishing 3 K-9 teams, CA provided qualified green dogs and sent professionals to assist MPC-held training courses in 2019. The newly trained K-9 teams can support MPC Shilin branch in detecting illicit drugs. By the end of 2022, a total of 18 K-9 teams will be commissioned, deployed and served in Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien military divisions.

　　MPC Commander Lieutenant-General Huang, Chin-Tsai expressed his gratitude particularly to CA on providing full technical support to enhance MPC’s dog handling expertise and overall detection capability. Following the ceremony, the newly trained K-9 teams demonstrated their edges of high mobility, rapid search, and nonintrusive detection while discovering targets. Target drugs either concealed in handbag, mobile vehicle or human body, were successfully detected without hints in a fast detection manner. The detector dog teams showered with compliments from attendees on their excellent performance. The successful debut also presents solid training results of dogs and handlers which may leverage its powerful effect as a deterrent. The event was concluded with the announcement of deployment of K-9 teams by Commander Huang as Deputy Minister Li, Zong-Xiao, Ministry of National Defense, acting as a witness.