The Service on Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, in collaboration with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, hosted an Annual K9 competition commemorating National Police Day. The competition will feature K9 units from four government entities, including the State Service for Execution of Punishments under the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Service on Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Border Service of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The competition's primary objectives include:
- Enhancing Professional Skills: This event aims to elevate the professional competence of K9 unit personnel across the ministries and agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic. It seeks to identify and recognize outstanding K9 specialists and teams.
- Strengthening K9 Skills: The competition will further reinforce the skills of K9 handlers, enhancing their ability to work effectively and cohesively with service dogs. These service dogs play a critical role in the timely detection and prevention of the illegal trafficking of narcotics and other prohibited substances.
- Knowledge Sharing and Innovation Integration: In addition, the competition is designed to facilitate the exchange of expertise in K9 training and the use of service dogs. This initiative will promote the adoption of advanced techniques within K9 operations across the ministries and agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Competing K9 teams will undergo evaluation in diverse categories, including the successful detection of illicit drugs inside vehicles and suitcases in an open field, searching within rooms containing distracting scents, and operating in crowded places.
The competition also included elements of training, incorporating advanced techniques and hands-on methods for service dogs, emphasizing positive reinforcement in the detection of illicit drugs and substances.
The event served as a forum for bolstering the professionalism and skillsets of K9 units operating within the Kyrgyz Republic. This endeavour was instrumental in strengthening their capabilities to deter and address various facets of illicit drug and contraband trafficking, in alignment with the mandate of the OSCE in the Kyrgyz Republic.
