One of the hardest working members of the Australian Border Force (ABF) is hanging up his harness this week after a proud career protecting the Australian community from illicit drugs and the harm they cause.
Vulk the narcotics detection dog is responsible for one of the largest detections of narcotics in the history of the ABF Detector Dog Unit, but at nine years of age, it is time for him to enjoy a dog's life in retirement.
ABF WA Detector Dog Unit Supervisor Susan Tucci, who hosted a farewell barbecue for Vulk today at Perth Airport, said the ABF placed great value on the work of the detector dogs and their handlers, as one of the many resources available to disrupt illicit drugs coming across Australia's border.
"Vulk has provided an outstanding service to the Australian community. As a narcotics detection dog he has used his highly trained sense of smell to detect countless attempted imports of drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis," Ms Tucci said.
During a three-week secondment to Sydney in 2017, Vulk walked past a sea container waiting to be released at the Sydney port and sat down wagging his tail.
"This was his way of indicating he could smell a narcotic in the container, which further inspection by ABF officers revealed to be nearly four tonnes of ephedrine concealed in green tea bottles, and 350kg of methamphetamine inside buckets of plaster," Ms Tucci said.
This was one of the largest detections by an ABF detector dog in the program's history and led to the arrest and significant term of imprisonment of a man behind the importation.
ABF detector dogs play an important role in helping to protect Australia by detecting prohibited or regulated goods such as drugs, firearms, explosives, tobacco and currencies at or beyond the border.
The ABF Detector Dog Program (DDP) mostly uses Labrador Retrievers due to their high drive, steady temperament, adaptability to challenging environments and non-threatening appearance. Detector dog teams screen both people and cargo and work at international airports, seaports and mail facilities, and licensed cargo depots.
Dogs like Vulk form a strong bond with their handlers as they train and work together on a daily basis. Like most retired ABF dogs, Vulk will live with his handler Robert and his family, with whom he spent the most years while on duty.
