Joint canine operation at Darwin Airport | WPN World People News

Australian law enforcement agencies have conducted a strategic blitz on illicit drugs and prohibited goods arriving into Darwin airport in a two-day canine operation on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February.

The operation, conducted jointly by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) and Northern Territory Police involved a high presence of canines and canine handlers at both the domestic and international airport in Darwin.

Over the two days, there were seven separate seizures of varying quantities of illicit substances, as well as a slingshot.

The smallest seizure was 2.2 grams of cannabis, the largest seizure was 60 kilograms of kava.

AFP Manager Darwin Office Andrew Warton said this joint operation shows law enforcement are committed to working together to stop the importation of drugs into Australia.

"No importation is too large or too small to escape the attention of Australian law enforcement agencies," Superintendent Warton said.

"The canine teams play an important role together in helping to protect Australia from prohibited imports such as drugs, firearms and explosives."

ACBPS Manager Airport Operations Darwin, Wendy Tralaggan, said the joint operation highlighted the professional working relationship that exists between Australian law enforcement partners.

"Today we are warning those who would attempt to import illegal items - don't waste your time, don't waste your money, and don't risk a fine or jail time," Ms Tralaggan said.

"If you attempt to smuggle prohibited items into Darwin you will be up against the combined intelligence and resources of Customs and Border Protection as well as our federal and state law enforcement partners."

Superintendent Col Goodsell from Northern Territory Police said from a police perspective, it is not only the movement of contraband across the border which presents an issue.

"The trafficking of illicit drugs and kava into remote communities by air is of particular concern, especially at this time of year when many are cut off by flood waters. This is where the dogs prove to be invaluable," Superintendent Goodsell said.

At present, there are 45 AFP Firearms and Explosive Detection Dog (FEDD) and 20 AFP Currency and Drug Detection (CADD) dog teams operating across Australia's major airports.

ACBPS has a total of 46 detector dog teams who deploy at airports, international mail facilities, seaports, and cargo deports around the country.

Source: Australian Federal Police