KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s anti-drug efforts received a boost with the handover of a trained narcotics detection dog (K9) to the state police.
The ceremony at the Sabah Police Headquarters was officiated by Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib, who is also PEMADAM Sabah chairman.
James said the dog, now training at Bukit Aman, will be deployed within four months to strengthen enforcement at airports in Sandakan, Tawau, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu, which are frequently used as drug courier points.
Each detection dog costs about RM80,000, and James will propose to the State Cabinet for more funding to secure at least five or six K9s to cover Sabah’s major entry points.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun welcomed the contribution as timely, noting the state’s only narcotics dog, 13-year-old Duyun, is nearing retirement.
With this addition, Sabah Police Dog Unit’s numbers will increase to nine, though Jauteh stressed more are urgently needed given the state’s vast geography and multiple ports.
