By Emmanuel Nii Sackey
The Netherlands Police has commenced a week-long specialized training programme for officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) K9 Unit, aimed at strengthening the fight against transnational organised crime and narcotics trafficking.
The training, being conducted in collaboration with the Netherlands Police and the Gendarmerie K9 Unit and held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast began on Monday April 13, 2026 and expected to end on Friday April 17, 2026.
The training is also focused on enhancing the operational skills of handlers and sniffer dogs in detecting illegal narcotics concealed on maritime vessels.
Key components of the programme include boarding procedures, systematic ship searches, and advanced detection techniques using trained K9 dogs.
The initiative is expected to improve the capacity of NACOC officers to detect and intercept narcotics trafficked mainly through sea routes, which remain a major channel for international drug smuggling networks.
The training forms part of broader international cooperation efforts to combat organised crime and strengthen border security across the West African sub-region.
The collaboration also highlights the growing importance of intelligence-led operations and the use of canine units in disrupting illicit drug movements across ports and territorial waters.