RCMP K9 Fentanyl Detection Workshop underway at Innisfail

INNISFAIL- An RCMP K9 Fentanyl Detection Workshop is underway at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre near Innisfail.

The centre received numerous requests for information from law enforcement agencies across North America following the announcement, last February, of the development of an efficient and safe method to train RCMP police dogs to detect fentanyl.  

In response the centre organized this workshop to share its findings.

This is the first meeting of its kind, where law enforcement agencies from neighbouring countries gather to learn the same scientific methods and dog training techniques.

Thirty-five participants have gathered for the two-day workshop.

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They will learn RCMP methods and safe practices for the mixing of a fentanyl liquid form, for the training of their dogs with a dangerous scent and for the teaching of a new expected dog behaviour in the presence of fentanyl in the field.

Dogs in attendance should be able to detect fentanyl by the end of the workshop.

The goal of the workshop is to pass on the information to the participating agencies so they can go home and implement the RCMP’s safe techniques.

Some of the Organizations present are the Canada Border Services Agency, Alberta Correctional Services, Winnipeg Police Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Mexico Federal Police.

There are currently 139 RCMP narcotics-profile dogs posted across Canada.

Their fentanyl detection training is on track and will be completed by mid-July.

For more information on RCMP dogs and their battle against fentanyl go to http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2017/31/rcmp-dogs-join-battle-fentanyl

(Gary McKinnon)