CNMI may become K-9 training hub

The Customs Division wants the Northern Marianas to be the dog training hub, similar to Australia, in the Western Pacific.

Australia has the reputation of having the best drug sniffing dog instruction program in the entire world.

Customs Director Jose C. Mafnas said his office is planning to send two of its dog handlers to Australia to study and become trainers of both the drug sniffing dogs and its handlers.

“Our dog handlers have the ability and know-how to train our other agents but the thing is, they won’t be certified, we need to have certified trainers to develop certified dog handlers, Mr. Mafnas said.

Each candidate would have to fork as much as $20,000 for the three-month training course. The fee already includes the materials and other incremental needs.

“It would be cheaper for us if we have our own trainers compared to sending people to Australia to become dog handlers,” the Customs Director said. “Who knows, the CNMI can even become the drug detector dog training capital of the Pacific.”

He also noted Australian dog and handler training schools already are stomped with customs, police and other agency personnel who all want to enroll in their program.

“There’s a great opportunity for us to get a share of the market as well as help other countries,” said the customs chief.

Mr. Mafnas indicated that potential enrollees could come from nearby islands like the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and other territories who have a requirement for drug sniffing dogs and their handlers.

He also reiterated that if ever the drug-sniffing dog center in the CNMI becomes a reality, his office would not charge a big amount and would only require students to pay for the cost of instruction and materials.

Currently, the Customs Division has nine drug detector dog handlers in its ranks. Five are assigned on Saipan, two on Tinian and another two on Rota.

The agency inaugurated a $200,000, 4,000-square-meter drug detector dog facility just last month. It sits close to the Saipan International Airport.

The customs division has been in strict implementation of the inspection system, including passengers arriving on Tinian and Rota from Guam, mainly because of reports that Ice is being imported into the neighboring island unprocessed.

The division needs additional officers to man all CNMI entry points but was quick to point out that the current personnel count could still support the operations and that the K-9 dogs are of significant help.

The agency is especially strict on CNMI-bound passengers arriving from high-risk countries, mostly in Asia, although stressing that they are not ruling out those coming from non-high risk countries.

Customs has successfully established procedures to inspect passengers and airplanes on all flights transiting through international and domestic airports in the CNMI for drugs or other prohibited substances.