The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has organised specialised refresher training for its canine unit handlers to strengthen their skills in detecting and intercepting narcotics. The training was facilitated by German technical dog-handling experts in collaboration with Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA).
The exercise, held at the NDLEA Canine Unit Facility in Lagos, involved 11 personnel comprising the unit commander, two veterinary doctors and eight dog handlers, alongside their service dogs. Five other officers from commands in Lagos also participated as prospective members of the unit.
According to a statement from the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, September 19, the training covered advanced obedience and control, narcotics detection, scent imprinting, search patterns and real-life simulation exercises at the baggage hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said the agency’s canine teams remained a key part of its efforts to detect concealed narcotics at airports, seaports and border points. He said the partnership with the German experts would strengthen the agency’s capacity and align its operations with international best practices.
Marwa also acknowledged manpower and logistics gaps affecting the canine unit, including the need for more dogs, personnel and boarding facilities to adequately cover the country’s international airports, seaports and land borders. He said plans were underway to address the gaps and sustain the refresher training as an annual exercise.
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