Police now seek exclusive dog squad to sniff out narcotic drugs

Following increasing cases of drug-trafficking in the city, the narcotic drugs squad has decided to use an exclusive canine squad to sniff out contraband.

ADGP (KSRP) Bhaskar Rao said a proposal had been sent to the government to set up the canine squad. It was also decided to adopt 35 German Shepherd pups for forming a young canine squad.

Assistant commissioner of police from Central Crime Branch B S Mohan Kumar, who heads the narcotics squad, said the police now depend only on informers and peddlers to dig out drug-trafficking cases in the city.

He added that  use of dogs in the operation can help identify banned substances. "If there is a dedicated canine squad, we can raid drug peddlers' houses," he Kumar said.  

According to narcotics squad officials, earlier, drug peddlers used to function in the areas like MG Road, Indiranagar and Koramangala but they have now moved their operations to city's outskirts like K R Puram, Banaswadi, Kammanahalli, TC Palya and Hebbal.  

An official from the city canine squad said, "At present, three German Shepherds were used to detect narcotic drugs at the airport and railway station. There is a proposal to train more dogs to track down drug-trafficking in the city. These dogs are experts in sniffing out drugs."  

Pups for the anti-narcotics squad are sourced from breeders in Bengaluru and Mysuru. Each pup costs between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000, according to the officer.  

Inspector of the narcotic squad, Shivaraj V D said, "The canine squad will help detect a wide variety of drugs."  

At present,  the city's Canine Training Centre at the City Armed Reserve ground in Adugodi has 60 dogs which work an average of 10 to 11 hours every day, in detecting crime, VIP security, Kempegowda International Airport and sniffing narcotics and explosives.

Canine strength in city

Labrador Retrievers - 30 (for sniffing duties)

Doberman Pinschers - 15 (crime detection)

German Shepherds - 15 (sniffing and detection, including narcotics and bomb squad)