Detector Dogs

Detect illegal narcotics, firearms and currency.

Fiji Detector Dog Unit

The Fiji Detector Dog Unit (FDDU) is a joint Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and Fiji Police Force (FPF) unit. The unit provides contraband detection at the border for FRCS and at post-border for FPF. Fiji Detector Dog Unit help the FRCS by detecting prohibited and regulated drugs, guns and money The teams are strategically located at Nadi and Suva port serving traveller, commercial operations and local communities. FDDU are equipped to quickly screen people and goods in the least intrusive manner possible. FDDU teams are involved in hundreds of interceptions every year and also provide public demonstrations at schools and in communities.

History

The FDDU was established in 2015 in a joint initiative with New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and New Zealand Police (NZP). The Unit started operation in 2016 to help frontline officers with a more effective method of detecting drugs, firearms and undeclared currency.

Pacific Detector Dog Program

In April 2018, the FDDU joints the Pacific Detector Dog Program (PDDP) initiated by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) The program runs across the regions and include Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands.

Roles

Detector Dog teams are trained and tasked to search:


  • Luggage

  • Parcels

  • Cargo

  • Containers​

  • Vessels

  • Vehicles

  • Aircraft

  • Buildings

  • People.

FDDU plays an important role in the detection of prohibited and regulated goods entering the country by:


  • Increasing opportunities to intercept drugs, guns, money, and food, plant and animal products
  • Discouraging smugglers, while educating Fijians about the FRCS’s innovative enforcement approaches

  • Helping frontline officers simplify searches

  • Reducing screening times for passengers, luggage and commercial shipments


FDDU also help other law enforcement agencies with search warrants for drugs, guns and money.

Training

Detector dog teams receive intensive training at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre in Wellington, NZ which runs for 9 weeks. The transition to operational environment training is conducted in country for 4 weeks where the animals learn to understand their new working environment.

About the dogs

The FDDU uses the dog donated by PDDP which is mostly Labrador Retrievers to detect contraband.

Typically, detector dogs;

  • Are 11 to 18 months old when training began.
  • Work for 7 to 9 years
  • Retire and live with their handlers or in a home arranged by the Unit.

The primary method of training is for dog to give a subtle signal to their handler when detecting a contraband.

Evaluation

The FDDU maintains very high standards for its dogs. Once dogs go on duty, an assessor evaluates every dog team annually to ensure they are working at an effective

Last Updated - July 24, 2025

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Detector Dogs

Detect illegal narcotics, firearms and currency.

Fiji Detector Dog Unit

The Fiji Detector Dog Unit (FDDU) is a joint Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and Fiji Police Force (FPF) unit. The unit provides contraband detection at the border for FRCS and at post-border for FPF. Fiji Detector Dog Unit help the FRCS by detecting prohibited and regulated drugs, guns and money The teams are strategically located at Nadi and Suva port serving traveller, commercial operations and local communities. FDDU are equipped to quickly screen people and goods in the least intrusive manner possible. FDDU teams are involved in hundreds of interceptions every year and also provide public demonstrations at schools and in communities.

History

The FDDU was established in 2015 in a joint initiative with New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and New Zealand Police (NZP). The Unit started operation in 2016 to help frontline officers with a more effective method of detecting drugs, firearms and undeclared currency.

Pacific Detector Dog Program

In April 2018, the FDDU joints the Pacific Detector Dog Program (PDDP) initiated by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) The program runs across the regions and include Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands.

Roles

Detector Dog teams are trained and tasked to search:


  • Luggage

  • Parcels

  • Cargo

  • Containers​

  • Vessels

  • Vehicles

  • Aircraft

  • Buildings

  • People.

FDDU plays an important role in the detection of prohibited and regulated goods entering the country by:


  • Increasing opportunities to intercept drugs, guns, money, and food, plant and animal products
  • Discouraging smugglers, while educating Fijians about the FRCS’s innovative enforcement approaches

  • Helping frontline officers simplify searches

  • Reducing screening times for passengers, luggage and commercial shipments


FDDU also help other law enforcement agencies with search warrants for drugs, guns and money.

Training

Detector dog teams receive intensive training at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre in Wellington, NZ which runs for 9 weeks. The transition to operational environment training is conducted in country for 4 weeks where the animals learn to understand their new working environment.

About the dogs

The FDDU uses the dog donated by PDDP which is mostly Labrador Retrievers to detect contraband.

Typically, detector dogs;

  • Are 11 to 18 months old when training began.
  • Work for 7 to 9 years
  • Retire and live with their handlers or in a home arranged by the Unit.

The primary method of training is for dog to give a subtle signal to their handler when detecting a contraband.

Evaluation

The FDDU maintains very high standards for its dogs. Once dogs go on duty, an assessor evaluates every dog team annually to ensure they are working at an effective

Last Updated - July 24, 2025

Back to Top