K9 tiny commended for her duties

The Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu yesterday recognised the effort of the Fiji Detector Dog Unit’s (DFDDU) K9 Tiny and her handler for a case that led to the successful detection of illicit substances namely methamphetamine.

K9 Tiny's was commended for her persistence and determination, instrumental in the detection of illicit substances whilst on operational duties in December 2024.

The Commissioner of Police used the opportunity to also acknowledge joint efforts by the Fiji Detector Dog Unit and Police Dog Unit in partnership with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and New Zealand Police in enhancing operational effectiveness in the war on drugs and other illicit activities.

The Commissioner was briefed that from July 2023 to January 2025, the Unit had made 417 seizures with 363 arrests, with the highest number of seizures for marijuana followed by methamphetamine and cocaine.

“We have to be aggressive. We have the capabilities, the intelligence and information so we need to be persistent in our efforts and rattle those linked to the illicit drug trade.”

“Feel the heartbeat on the ground, understand your environment because members of the public are demanding action.”

The Commissioner of Police, while acknowledging the support of the New Zealand Police in the conduct of specialised training of handlers and the provision of K9s, called on the members of the FDDU and Police Dog Unit to be forward thinking as the criminal landscape continued to evolve.

“Don’t stay silent when it comes to your operational needs, let me know so I can lobby for help at the strategic level. You are experts in your field and therefore I will rely on your expert advice, as we need to be planning ahead to counter and curb illicit activities associated with drugs and transnational crimes.”

The Fiji Detector Dog Unit program is a partnership between the Fiji Police Force and Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and is supported by the New Zealand Government through the New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs. The agencies work together in enhancing detector dog capabilities through the provision of training and K9 capabilities.