The EU-funded project “EU Support in Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine – Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)” provided 10 canine teams from the State Customs Service (SCS) with a two-week specialized training of advanced level. Today, the training was successfully completed.
The canine teams from Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Odesa and Kyiv customs offices, as well as two teams from the Department of Specialized Training and Canine Support of the State Customs Service, trained on the premises of the Department.
Each canine team includes an officer and a dog trained to sniff various matters, which allows to detect narcotics and psychotropic substances, small arms and ammunition, tobacco, etc. Such training goes in line with recommendations on improvement of security controls at BCPs, as well as on trade facilitation measures, particularly relevant in the context of the EU Solidarity Lanes initiative.
“Customs control is an important component of effective border management. In this regard, practical training for the initiators of control procedures is crucial. Improving qualifications of the SCS canine teams is a solid investment into faster and more efficient customs procedures”, commented Arunas Adomenas, EU4IBM-Resilience Team Leader.
Upon the completion of the two-week exercise, the participants test their new knowledge and skills for effective and faster detection of prohibited items and substances. The theoretical part includes a computerized exam on customs legislation, combating smuggling and violations of customs rules. It also checks the knowledge on the use of service dogs, search and detection of items, English language skills. The practical part includes search exercises in various situations: in trucks, passenger cars, luggage, on a person and in their clothes, indoor search, as well as testing dogs’ obedience skills.
The trained canine teams immediately return to their duty stations, to apply their newly improved skills combatting illicit traffic, smuggling, and other unlawful activities. In total, over 80 teams are planned to undergo advanced two-week training this year, while additional 25 newcomer teams will benefit from the basic training and will start working for the first time.