Dogs sniff out drugs

A sniffer dog identified the scent of drugs on this man in a drugs blitz at Footscray train station last week. 71470 Picture: Charlene Gatt

By Charlene Gatt
POLICE and a sniffer dog were out in force last week in a drugs blitz at Footscray train station.
Around 22 police from Footscray station and the Transit Safety Division spent more than four hours searching commuters that the sniffer dog identified.
The dog is trained to sit next to a person if they detect the scent of drugs.
“It’s a very effective way of detecting drugs,” Sergeant Phil Foster said.
“They (the dogs) are incredible.”
Sgt Foster said the sniffer dogs’ senses were so sensitive, they could pick up the smell of residual drugs on clothes or other items.
Acting Inspector Andrew Rowlands said the one-day blitz was part of Operation Safe Spring, a month-long, state-wide operation focusing on public transport during the busy Spring Racing Carnival period.
Act Insp Rowlands said Footscray train station was marked out for a sub-operation because of intelligence gathered.
“It’s been noted that a lot of people come here to sell drugs or carry drugs on them,” he said.
“We want to reassure the public that the public transport system is safe to use.
“We have had a lot of good feedback (about the operation).”
The blitz occurred less than two months after a similar operation and weapons search at Footscray train station at the end of August.