The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Elite Canine Unit is being put through its paces to decide which dogs will represent Australia at the 2018 Australasian Police Dog Trials.
Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, Angus Taylor said the trials would highlight the elite capability of Australian Federal Police (AFP) dogs and their handlers.
“Last financial year AFP canines and their handlers seized almost $2.5 million of illegitimate cash — along with illicit drugs like MDMA, methamphetamine and cocaine — that would have otherwise passed through Australian airports,” Mr Taylor said.
“The AFP canine qualifying event is an excellent way to put the dogs through their paces and show off our world-class training methods.”
He said the canine capability of the AFP and Australian Border Force was an essential part of the Government’s approach to ensure borders and airports remained safe for travellers.
“We are containing the significant shift in the threat to Australia through a number of measures at airports. Some, like the detector dogs, will be visible to the public and others will not,” Mr Taylor said.
“The upgrading of integral infrastructure at Australia’s nine designated airports — including new Canine Operations Centres — is nearing completion.”
AFP canines and their handlers will be selected to represent Australia in the 2018 Australasian Police Dog Trials in New Zealand in October.
