With the uptick in drugs coming into the island, the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam is pleased to announce a new layer to security with the introduction of a newly established narcotic detection and tracking canine unit.
“The GIAA continues to assist in the mission of narcotic detection and possible breaches of our secured areas and we are now able to dispatch a new K-9 unit to assist with our patrol, outgoing passenger checks, and outgoing baggage checks and the integrity and security of non-public, secured areas,” stated Airport Executive Manager John M. “JQ” Quinata.
The unit consists of “Max” and “Tara,” Belgian Malinois K-9s, teamed with Airport Police Officer II J.D. Manibusan and Airport Police Officer I J.P. Mallari.
The narcotics and tracking K-9s and their handlers are fully certified and exceed the national standards for K-9 Working Dogs. Furthermore, the Narcotics and Tracking K-9 Unit joined the GIAA’s K-9 bomb detection unit established more than 20 years ago.
The Narcotic and Tracking K-9s received their training and initial certification at a K-9 School affiliated to meet U.S. K-9 national standards in Belgium.
Since then the two K-9s have gone through their acclimation phase and continue training on island and at GIAA facilities. In addition, “Max and “Tara” are also trained in the tracking of missing persons and persons of interest.
