BOWDEN - The RCMP is staying one step ahead when it comes to fentanyl, and is training police service dogs to detect the illicit drug.
A total of 139 RCMP narcotics-profile dogs and their handlers across Canada are expected to complete training by mid-July 2017.
"It's an RCMP solution to an international problem," said Insp. Akrum Ghadban, officer in charge of RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre (PDSTC) in Bowden. "It's a North American problem and we recognize that."
The RCMP made the announcement of the fentanyl training during a demonstration at the dog service training centre on Feb. 3.
Ghadban noted an example where one of three RCMP dog teams already trained to detect the drug intercepted 12,000 tablets of fentanyl in British Columbia.
"I do believe the Canadian population is safer because of our new fentanyl dog training. By keeping more fentanyl off the street, we save Canadian lives," he said.
In addition to detecting fentanyl, dogs will also be able to detect variations of the dangerous drug.
"The dogs are coming across fentanyl. We want to make sure they're going to recognize it," said Ghadban. "(In training) once they recognize it, they'll sit at a safe distance and the handler will take appropriate action."
RCMP specialists transformed pure fentanyl into a diluted liquid form, allowing the dogs to train with the real smell of fentanyl and with no risk of inhaling it, noted Ghadban.
"Now that we've been able to synthesize fentanyl into a safe liquid format, we're able to travel with that and we can do training on site (across Canada) with those existing dogs," he added.
"What we've done is add another odour, another tool to their toolbox," said Ghadban. "Before the dogs didn't recognize fentanyl. Now they do."
Fentanyl training was introduced to RCMP dogs because there was a concern for public safety, handlers' safety and dog safety.
"We had to make sure we were able to find a way to safely detect it," said Ghadban, adding dogs potentially face injury when detecting fentanyl.
"The risk is always there. Our handlers have been carrying Narcan, which is injectable naloxone for over 20 years in their emergency kits," said Ghadban, noting safety measures are in place and have been vetted through their veterinary program.
"We can administer naloxone to a dog safely, same as a human," he said.
"If we can save one life, we're going to save hundreds of lives."
RCMP Insp. Akrum Ghadban
"The dogs are coming across fentanyl. We want to make sure they're going to recognize it."
