Dubai Customs has inaugurated a new fleet of vehicles for its Customs Dog Unit (K9), equipped with the latest smart systems to support operations for detecting drugs and explosives. The launch coincides with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and falls within the national anti-drugs campaign launched by the National Anti-Narcotics Authority under the slogan "United Front to Eradicate the Scourge".
The new fleet enhances inspection response speed and raises the efficiency of field operations, thereby supporting port security and protecting society from attempts to smuggle prohibited substances.
The two new vehicles have been designed to the latest specifications to meet the unit's operational requirements, ensuring rapid deployment to inspection sites, improved field efficiency, and the highest standards of safety and welfare for the customs dogs.
The vehicles incorporate an integrated technology suite comprising smart cameras to monitor the dogs' movement inside the kennels, driver-attention monitoring systems, and thermal sensors that track temperature levels and send instant alerts when needed, ensuring the dogs' safety during missions.
The vehicles are also fitted with special emergency plates to facilitate swift access to inspection sites, and are in the process of being electronically connected to Dubai Customs' main operations room for real-time monitoring of field operations.
The unit currently comprises 28 customs dogs — 20 specialised in drug detection and 8 in explosive detection — supervised by 24 handlers, including 20 male handlers and 4 female handlers, reflecting the diversity of national competencies working in this security field.
The unit carried out 341 field missions during 2023, 419 missions during 2024, and 290 missions during 2025, in support of inspection operations across various ports and customs centres.
The unit operates from a fully integrated facility built to the highest international standards, comprising 54 kennels for customs dogs, 5 quarantine kennels, 5 specialised training facilities, a veterinary examination room, and fields simulating various inspection scenarios. The fleet now includes 6 vehicles dedicated to transporting customs dogs following the addition of the two new vehicles.
Yasser Saeed Al Muslami, Principal Consultant for Customs Affairs at the department, affirmed that the inauguration of the new fleet represents a further step in the department's ongoing development journey to strengthen the customs inspection system and enhance the capabilities of the Customs Dog Unit as a cornerstone in protecting ports and society from the entry of narcotics and prohibited goods.
"Dubai Customs is committed to continuous investment in smart technologies and modern means that enhance inspectors' capabilities and raise the efficiency of customs operations, in line with international best practices," he said.
For his part, Fouad Al Suwaidi, Director of the Technical Support Department at the department, said that developing the K9 unit's capabilities is not limited to providing the latest vehicles, but encompasses an integrated system of training, qualification, and healthcare, ensuring the highest levels of operational readiness are maintained.
He added that Dubai Customs continues to invest in developing its operational infrastructure through specialised training facilities that simulate various inspection scenarios at land, sea, and air ports of entry, alongside a veterinary clinic, quarantine facilities, and hazardous materials storage rooms, in keeping with international best practices in operating customs dog units.
The launch of the new fleet forms part of Dubai Customs' ongoing efforts to develop port security and enhance the readiness of its specialised units with the latest technologies and operational solutions. This supports inspectors' capacity for early detection of narcotics and prohibited goods, strengthens community protection, safeguards legitimate trade flows, and reinforces Dubai's standing as a global model in border security and the fight against transnational organised crime.