BOMCA IMPROVES THE CAPACITY OF DOG HANDLING INSTRUCTORS IN CENTRAL ASIA TO SEARCH FOR EXPLOSIVES

On July 1, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia started training of trainers (ToT) course for dog handling instructors specializing in drug searches. Held in Lithuania, this three-month course gathers five trainers, one from each Central Asia country. The ToT course aims to improve the theoretical and practical knowledge during in-training of canine teams and service dogs used for daily border guarding tasks, including the detection of drugs. 

Over twelve weeks the participants will undergo theoretical and practical training with the service dogs and develop teaching skills for the subsequent transfer of knowledge within their respective institutions. The curriculum of the course is developed in line with the European and the FRONTEX Agency standards. As per the ToT methodology, the training also includes the provision of specialised K-9 dogs and appropriate training equipment, which will be handed over to the trainers at the end of the course.  Upon completion and successful certification, the dog handler-instructors will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and materials to continue training within their agencies.

This ToT is organised in the framework of BOMCA Programme’s Component 2 “Improvement of detection capacities to counter cross-border crime” and is aimed at developing the K-9 teams’ capacities at border agencies.