THE CANINE TEAMS “A CRUCIAL RESOURCE FOR
THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CIGARETTE SMUGGLING”
Romanian National Customs Authority
ROMANIA
ROMANIA OVERVIEW / HISTORY
2000 – the Romanian customs administration initiates the program for the formation and use of canine teams, as a part of the UNDCP-Phare program; four canine teams, specialized in the detection of drugs, were prepared with the support of the German and French customs authorities.
2001 – Within the same UNDCP-Phare program, the Romanian customs administration increases the number of its canine members, by six more anti-drug dogs. The new canine teams were formed at the National School of Customs Brigades – LaRochelle, France.
2004 – Based upon the analysis of drug trafficking and consumption in Romania, the customs administration adopts a policy meant to strengthen the anti-drug control, which is why it establishes the Dog Training Centre - Giurgiu. The main purpose of this training centre is to form canine teams and to maintain their professional training level at all times.
2005-2008 – Twenty canine anti-drug teams are prepared.
ROMANIA
2008 – After Romania’s accession to the European Union, a substantial part of the national border has become also the border of the Community customs territory. This has
determined an increase of the illicit trade and smuggling with cigarettes and tobacco products in the relevant areas.
In order to be able to fight against these phenomena, securing thereby the protection of the national and the Community economic interests, the Romanian customs
administration has aimed at the improvement, diversification and extension of the available operational fighting methods, by developing a project of formation of canine teams - specialized in the detection of cigarettes and tobacco products, specifically the formation of ten canine anti-tobacco teams.
This project was launched at the end of 2008, as a result of the financial support granted by British American Tobacco (Romania) and of the cooperation with the customs
administration in Hungary, which has provided the formation of three canine teams.
OVERVIEW / HISTORY
ROMANIA
2010 – Within the same project, financed by British American Tobacco (Romania), seven more canine anti-tobacco teams were formed at the dog training centre of the Romanian customs administration;
– The initiation of a new project, financed by Japan Tobacco International (Romania), having as objective the formation of 30 canine anti-tobacco teams:
- 2011 – the formation of 20 anti-tobacco teams- 2012 – the formation of 10 anti-tobacco teams
2011 – Twenty canine anti-tobacco teams were formed, as a part of the project financed by JT International (Romania);
– A Cooperation Protocol was concluded with the National Prison Administration for training personnel specialized in fighting against drug and mobile phone trafficking in prisons, under which technical support for selecting the service dogs was granted;
2010 – Within the same project, financed by British American Tobacco (Romania), seven more canine anti-tobacco teams were formed at the dog training centre of the Romanian customs administration;
– The initiation of a new project, financed by Japan Tobacco International (Romania), having as objective the formation of 30 canine anti-tobacco teams:
- 2011 – the formation of 20 anti-tobacco teams- 2012 – the formation of 10 anti-tobacco teams
2011 – Twenty canine anti-tobacco teams were formed, as a part of the project financed by JT International (Romania);
– A Cooperation Protocol was concluded with the National Prison Administration for training personnel specialized in fighting against drug and mobile phone trafficking in prisons, under which technical support for selecting the service dogs was granted;
OVERVIEW / HISTORY
ROMANIA
2012 – Eight canine anti-tobacco teams were formed, as a part of the project financed by Japan Tobacco International (Romania);
– Eight canine anti-drug teams were formed, for the National Prison Administration in Romania;
2013 – Based upon the same cooperation protocol, the customs administration has formed eight other canine teams specialized in the detection of mobile phones, for the National Prison Administration in Romania.
2012 – Eight canine anti-tobacco teams were formed, as a part of the project financed by Japan Tobacco International (Romania);
– Eight canine anti-drug teams were formed, for the National Prison Administration in Romania;
2013 – Based upon the same cooperation protocol, the customs administration has formed eight other canine teams specialized in the detection of mobile phones, for the National Prison Administration in Romania.
OVERVIEW / HISTORY
ROMANIA
Canine teams are a means to effectively fight drug trafficking and directed against specific controls are used on all transport vectors and enclosures:- road (both border customs offices and on the road, in the work of the mobile teams)- naval - aircraft (cargo and passenger)- rail (especially train travel)- postal and courier references under- deposits- house searches (actions with police)
CANINE TEAMS – A PART OF OPERATING STRUCTURES
ROMANIA ACTIVITY AND RESULTS OF THE CANINE TEAMS IN 2013
Inspections
Confiscated cigarettesConfiscated
alcoholConfiscated
tobaccoOther confiscated /
seized goods
Confiscated cars
PVCValue of the fines
(RON)Felonies
Prohibited drugs /substances
(pcs.)(RON value)
(litre)(RON value)
(kg)(RON value)
(No)(RON value)
19691 2511120 1574763 9981 484046 13608 311884
- metal detector parts- seized goods (L344)amounting to EUR4,801,692 + USD
87,195- confiscated goodsamounting to RON756,793
63 646228 477 1787453 66
- 160.4 g of hashish- 48 pots ofCannabis plants- 10.7 g cannabis
resin- 30 tb steroids- 1560 tb anabolicsubstances- 175 ampoules ofTestosterone
TOTAL VALUE OF FINES AND CONFISCATED GOODS
Confiscated cigarettes RON 1,574,763 = EUR 349,947
Confiscated alcohol RON 484,046 = EUR 107,565
Confiscated tobacco RON 311,884 = EUR 69,307
Cars RON 646,228 = EUR 143,606
Fines total value RON 1,787,453 = EUR 397,211
Other confiscated goods RON 756,793 = EUR 168,176
TOTAL RON 5,561,167 = EUR 1,235,812
ROMANIA
Furthermore, in 2013, the activity of the canine teams was materialized in 9 detections of drugs and substances having a special regime (prohibited). The acknowledgement of the high quality level of the professional training of the customs canine teams, proven by the detection of drugs / cigarettes and by the conduct expressed during the inspections, have determined the institutions having duties with regard to the fight against the drug trade and fiscal evasion, specifically the directions and departments of the Ministry of Justice and of the Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs, to require support for the development of operative interventions and for the training of their own canine teams. We would like to specify that in 2013, the customs administration has operated a professional training program for the National Prison Administration, under which eight canine teams were formed, specialized in the detection of mobile phones, such program being a first in Romania.
Considering the results obtained by the canine teams in 2013, in relation with the costs incurred for supporting their activity, we might conclude that the canine teams represent an efficient method for preventing and fighting against the customs frauds, drug trafficking and smuggling in general:
Canineteams
The value of the fines charged and goodsconfiscated by the customs officers who are part
of the canine teams
The costs for supporting the control activity performed by the canine teams
43 EURO 1.235.812 EURO 101.446
CONCLUSIONS
ROMANIA
Strengthening the fighting capacity of the General Customs Direction against the illicit drug trade and cigarette smuggling, by increasing the number of canine teams. For this goal, we have a project in course of development, financed by JT International (Romania), under which 12 canine teams with double specialization – the detection of drugs and cigarettes - shall be formed.
PERSPECTIVES FOR2014-2015
