On 22 December 2023, five canine teams of the State Customs Service of Ukraine finished their four-week specialized training marking the tenth and final session in the canine teams training series supported by the EU-funded Project “EU Support in Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine – Resilience”.
Over the year, a total of 86 teams from various regional customs offices attended training at the SCS Department of Specialized Training and Canine Support in Khmelnytskyi. Among these, 68 canine teams successfully completed a two-week advanced specialized training programme, while additional 18 newly enrolled teams underwent a comprehensive four-week initial training.
In his speech at the opening of the session, Arunas Adomenas, EU4IBM-Resilience Team Leader, highlighted “the undeniable impact of the professional performance of SCS canine teams on the quality of control procedures, which helps combat smuggling and identify customs rules violations, to safeguard Ukraine’s economic interests and promote secure transborder trade in the long run”.
To live up to high standards and expectations, a canine team consisting of a customs inspector and a service dog is trained to detect various illicit items and prevent unlawful activities.
The training program typically comprises both theoretical and practical aspects. The theoretical part includes lectures to broaden the general understanding of canine team operations, Ukrainian customs law, first aid, psychology, and more. During the practical part, canine teams exercise in detecting narcotics, psychotropic substances, tobacco products, weapons, ammunition, as well as amber and banknotes.
After completing the training and confirming their achievements at the exam, canine teams receive certificates and return to their duty stations, equipped with new knowledge and improved skills.
Synergetic with the EU Solidarity Lanes initiative, the 2023 series of training was facilitated by the project in line with earlier project recommendations as well as the EU efforts to enhance security control at Ukraine’s borders and to implement trade facilitation measures to support Ukraine’s economy in the context of war.
