Viru Prison hosts narcotics detection competition for service dogs

Nineteen service dogs and their handlers participated in a narcotics detection competition held at Viru Prison. The event brought together teams from the Prison and Border Guard Board, the Police and Border Guard Board, the Tax and Customs Board, and the Military Police.

Organized by the Prison and Border Guard Board, this marked the first nationwide narcotics detection competition hosted by the prison service. The competition aimed to enhance inter-agency cooperation, share professional expertise, and test the synergy between handlers and their dogs. Participants were tested in two stages: locating hidden substances within detention rooms and navigating a search track to find items placed along a route.

Triin Salometsa, an advisor for the Prison Work Organization Department, noted that the competition tests more than just a dog’s sense of smell, emphasizing the vital trust and cooperation required between a handler and a dog to function as a single unit. The ultimate goal is to prevent the spread of prohibited substances and contribute to a safer society.

The top three teams in the overall standings were Birgit and Kira from the Tax and Customs Board, Gert and Amira from the Prison and Border Guard Board, and Markus and Alaska from the Prison and Border Guard Board. Gert and Amira achieved the best result for the prison service.