Stepping up surveillance at the transhipment areas in Phuentshogling, officials have now started using sniffer dogs to track illegal products that are smuggled in with the essentials. The sniffer dogs are now a part of the team at the transhipment area.
A German shepherd trained to track drugs and narcotics, and four labrador retrievers trained to track people and explosives assist the officials at the transhipment areas. The dogs are trained to sniff out restricted goods such as drugs and explosives. With the help of the dogs, officials found few packages, which were not included in the invoice. People on duty were impressed with the way the dogs perform the task.
“As a DeSuup, I feel that it will help us immensely. Though we are on duty, we cannot touch the goods here. And we cannot see what’s inside the package. Dogs are able to trace it out. Some people also import items, which are not in the list. We are not able to check out everything they bring in. So, the dogs will be a great support to us here,” said Choki Wangmo, a DeSuup at the Transshipment area in Phuentshogling.
“All the hardware materials come from India, so the chances of bringing in illegal items are more. Since we all have different roles to play here, we aren’t able to check every vehicle. There are chances that people sneak in illegal products without our knowledge. We saw the dogs from the first time, and we are happy that it will help us in tracking illegal products,” added Sonam Peldon, from the Bhutan Hardware Association in Phuentshogling.
“We feel that it will benefit everyone here. We appreciate the effort put in my police. At such times, when everyone is working only to earn more money, there are chances that people may take other ways to earn money too. So, the dogs will prove to be a success here in preventing such heinous activities here,” shared Thinley Pempa, a Loader at the Transshipment area.
According to officials, the trained dogs will be used in all the transhipment areas including Ahlay Land Customs Station in Pasakha and at the gates in the town. Royal Bhutan police have 15 trained dogs of which five are currently in Phuentshogling.
Sonam Penjor
