Today, 26 August, is International Dog Day, and New Zealand Customs is marking the occasion by recognising the vital role its detector dogs play in protecting the country’s borders and communities.

For more than 50 years, detector dogs have been at the heart of daily operations.

Each year, the teams intercept hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs and seize millions of dollars in undeclared cash at airports.

Customs Director International, Michael Blades, says the Pacific Detector Dog Programme, which was set up in 2018, has become an important part of keeping the wider region secure.

The programme is delivered jointly by New Zealand Police and Customs, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“Detector dogs are a vital enforcement tool in the fight against transnational, serious and organised crime syndicates that continue to target Pacific nations,” Mr Blades said.

Funding for the programme has now been boosted to $6.7 million for the next five years, up from $3.8 million in its first term.

The increase will strengthen training and support for Pacific agencies, ensuring well-trained dog teams can disrupt crime before it reaches New Zealand.

For Coasties travelling through Auckland Airport, these four-legged guardians are often the first line of defence, working quietly alongside their handlers to keep harmful goods and criminal activity from making it to the Hibiscus Coast and beyond.

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