Narcotics detection dogs prove invaluable asset to City Police

 

 

 

THE growing menace of drug trafficking in Nagpur has met a formidable adversary in the form of two highly trained narcotics detection dogs -- ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’ -- who are playing an essential role in the city’s fight against the illegal drug trade. As part of the city’s “Nagpur Drug-Free” initiative spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Singal, the duo, both three-year-old German Shepherds, have been instrumental in a series of successful drug busts, leading to multiple arrests of drug-peddlers. Crucial contributions of ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’ have solidified the importance of specially trained dogs in modern law enforcement. These two canines, who joined the Anti-Narcotic Cell of the City Police’s Crime Branch in 2022, underwent rigorous six-month training at the Sashastra Seema Bal’s dog breeding and training centre at Dera in Alwar, Rajasthan, before being deployed in Nagpur. With their extraordinary olfactory abilities, ‘Surya’ and ‘Max have proven capable of detecting even the faintest traces of narcotics.

 

Their highly developed sense of smell, far superior to that of humans, enables them to identify substances like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, mephedrone and other illicit drugs. Their keen noses are equipped with a higher concentration of olfactory receptors and a larger olfactory bulb compared to humans, which significantly enhances their detection abilities. The structure of their noses, including unique folding nostrils, further aids their skill in sniffing out illegal substances. The effectiveness of ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’ in drug detection is largely attributed to their specialised training. Handlers, including Head Constables Sukhdeo Dhurve and Ashok Yadav, along with Police Constables Abhay Dandi and Amol Padgam, have trained the dogs to remain alert to the presence of narcotics through specific behaviours, such as heightened excitement or intense sniffing.

 

This skill allows the canines to detect even the smallest traces of narcotics during searches, raids, and other law enforcement operations. However, experts caution that while these dogs are highly skilled, they are not infallible. Since their detection is scent-based, a dog may be alert to narcotics that are no longer present in the immediate area, and some narcotics may be packaged in ways that mask their scent, such as in vacuum-sealed bags, leading to potential false alerts. Despite these limitations, ‘Surya’ and Max’s reliability remains unmatched. Head Constable Dhurve, who handles ‘Surya, takes pride in the dog’s achievements. “Surya detected more than 1.5 tonne of marijuana valued at Rs 2.33 crore that was being transported by traffickers in a truck in November 2022. After ‘Surya’ alerted us, our team seized the contraband and the truck in the Kalamna area,” Dhurve recalls. In another instance, ‘Surya’ helped uncover mephedrone worth Rs 25 lakh in the Ajni area, leading to the arrest of drug-peddlers under the supervision of senior police officials, including Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Patil. Recently, ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’ were tasked with searching the Central Jail premises after reports surfaced about some inmates possessing drugs.

 

Their success in detecting illicit substances within the facility further underscores their importance in maintaining law and order. Both dogs are continuing their training to refine their skills and maintain their accuracy. Their handlers regularly expose them to different environments to sustain focus and enhance their detection capabilities. Additionally, they conduct ‘proofing’ exercises to ensure that the dogs are not distracted by unfamiliar or misleading smells, minimising the chances of false positives. ‘Surya’ will also be participating in the State-level Police Meet in Pune next month, showcasing the capabilities of Nagpur’s finest narcotics detection dogs. Despite challenges, narcotics detection dogs remain a vital asset for law enforcement, helping to remove dangerous drugs from the streets and making critical arrests. With their superior abilities and ongoing training, ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’ are poised to remain at the forefront of the “Nagpur Drug-Free” initiative, playing a crucial role in keeping the city safe from the growing threat of drugs and narcotics. 

 

 

THE City Police have also expanded their canine force with an additional ten sniffer dogs, further bolstering their capabilities in various law enforcement tasks. Besides two narcotics detection dogs ‘Surya’ and ‘Max’, six criminal tracking dogs are in the Dog Squad and four other sniffer canines are working with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad. Among the criminal trackers is Revan, a Belgian Malinois, a breed known for its intelligence, agility, and high stamina. The Belgian Malinois dogs are also used by elite forces like the US Navy SEALs and one of them was involved in the operation to neutralise Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. In 2015, Belgian Malinois dogs’ Squad was also an integral part of US President Barack Obama’s security apparatus during his visit to New Delhi. The same breed of dogs are in the elite K-9 Squad of the US Secret Service. India’s National Security Guards (NSG) have also integrated Belgian Malinois dogs into their specialised operations, as the breed is highly skilled in both tracking and paralysing terrorists.