Puma the 20-month-old Labrador is the latest addition to the Dog Operation Unit. Puma originated from the Customs breeding program in Melbourne and was supplied to the NT Police to replace detector dog Scent.

Police dog Puma is funded by FAHCSIA and will be utilised to stop the supply of dangerous drugs to indigenous communities as well as assisting operational Police Officers to search people, houses and freight.

Puma will be handled by Senior Constable Richard O'Brien and is already trained to detect heroin, ecstasy, cocaine and pseudo ephedrine. Detector Dog Puma will shortly be trained to detect cannabis and kava.

Once again the Australian Customs Detection Dog Program has supplied NT Police with a great asset to the Dog Operation Unit, continuing the great relationship between the agencies.

New Police detector dog "Viper", who also originated from the Customs breeding program in Melbourne has already located approximately 20 drug seizures, in his first three months of operation with NT Police Dog Operations Unit.

NT Police now have a total of 11 dogs Territory wide, including 7 drug detector dogs and 3 general purpose police dogs.


Media Contact:
Rickie Scoot
8922 3185