Sniffer dogs have been deployed on permanent basis at Suvarnabhumi international airport to help officials in drug trafficking interdiction operations.
The deployment of the K-9 units is a joint operation by the Customs Department, the Border Patrol Police, the Airports of Thailand Company and other relevant security agencies.
Phantong Loykulnanta, director general of the Customs Department, said today that the deployment of the K-9 units at the airport, Thailand’s major gateway for air arrivals and departures, is in response to the government’s urgent policy to address drug trafficking activities via this airport, which have seen a steady increase.
In recent weeks, officials at the airport managed to intercept attempts to smuggle illegal narcotics, such as heroin and crystal methamphetamine, by hiding them in baggage carried by paid couriers.
Phantong noted that air travel remains the most popular method employed by transnational drug trafficking syndicates to get drugs from Thailand to overseas destinations, adding that the illegal activities have tarnished the reputation of Thailand.
Pol Lt Gen Rungroj Thakoonpunyasiri, commissioner of the Border Patrol Police, said that the deployment of K-9 units at the airport will significantly enhance the drug interception operations, will improve coordination among officials of relevant agencies and boost exchanges of information and experience.
