It was an emotional day at the Fiji Detector Dog Unit (FDDU) as officers farewelled four of their four-legged comrades who retired after years of loyal service last Friday.
Emotions were high as the handlers for K9 Ziggy, K9 Blake, K9 Kaleb, and K9 Quip relayed the journey they’ve shared together in the Fiji Police Force.
FDDU is a joint operation between the Fiji Police Force K9 Unit and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and so while K9 Kaleb and K9 Blake belonged to the Fiji Police K9 Unit, K9 Quip and K9 Ziggy were with the FRCS. Speaking during the farewell ceremony, FRCS border enforcement unit manager Winston James acknowledged the contribution made by these four K9s in protecting Fiji’s borders.
“These dogs have contributed so much in protecting Fiji’s borders and also our nation from the effects of transnational crimes, drugs,” Mr James said.
“From FRCS, I would just like to say that in 2016 we started a journey, a partnership with Fiji police with regards to FDDU and I must say that this is the blueprint of working together. We are only stronger when we are together because at the end of the day, if we look at our borders, and our nation, we all have the same shared goals and objectives.
“We want our borders to be free from illegal trade, illegal drugs, and persons who come in to disturb our way of life.”
Officer-in-Charge K9 Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Manueli Yawayawa also conveyed his gratitude to the four K9s for their contribution thus far.
“I would also like to acknowledge the great support from the New Zealand government who provided training and dogs since 2015 until today as we witness four of our officers just left our shores on Sunday to attend the same training in New Zealand,” he said.
Sergent Mosese Fatiaki, handler for K9 Blake, was one of the first batch of handlers to attend training in New Zealand before the establishment of FDDU in 2015. Upon return he was given K9 Blake to handle, even though he trained in New Zealand with K9 Ziggy.
“Ziggy was first assigned to me and not Blake. When we arrived in Fiji, they told us that there was going to be a reshuffle, I was going to handover Ziggy to Solo (FRCS customs officer Solomoni Cagilevu) and I was going to take Blake,” Mr Fatiaki shared.
“All dog handlers know that when you’re assigned a dog, you tend to create a bond with the dog and I had already created that bond with Ziggy so when they told me that I was going to handle Blake, I had my reservations. I was a bit upset.
“When the operations in Nadi started in 2016, we could all see from the handlers that the game was on. Who was going to get the first catch.”
Though the pair started off slow, Sgt Fatiaki and K9 Blake went on to achieve 188 busts in their six and a half years stint together.
The four four-legged retirees may have found new owners but the bond they share with their handlers is an irreplaceable one.
