Pubdate: Fri, 22 Aug 2003
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283
Author: Edith Bevin

DRUG DOG BID TO HALT DOPE TRADE

Dogs used to patrol Australia's borders may be used to stop the flow of 
cannabis to the Territory's remote communities.

CLP Senator Nigel Scullion is trying to broker a meeting between the NT 
Police Minister, police and Australian Customs officers to get a formal 
agreement for custom sniffer dogs to be used in the Territory.

A memorandum of understanding exists between the NT police and Customs to 
use dogs when available. Senator Scullion said formalising the agreement 
would allow drug squad officers to conduct random but consistent patrols of 
aircraft, barge and truck cargo. The dogs would need additional training as 
they are now only trained to sniff out morphine-based drugs. During a visit 
to the NT in June, Senator Bronwyn Bishop pledged to reintroduce sniffer 
dogs to Darwin and Alice Springs airports to stop drug trafficking. Senator 
Scullion said abuse of cannabis was chronic and needed immediate action to 
end "this trade in human misery". "We've got kids as young as 11 that are 
using quite considerable amounts of cannabis," he said. "It's unacceptable 
and it's got to stop." Police Minister Paul Henderson last night called on 
the Federal Government to meet Senator Bishop's commitment. The call comes 
despite the Government refusing in March to allow the NT police to have 
their own drug detection dog. The O'Sullivan review recognised the need for 
a dog squad, saying it was a "necessary part of drug detection and 
prevention activities for the NT". The Government has promised to honour 
all of the O'Sullivan recommendations.

Are you coming the 2nd Darwin International Syringe Festival and 1st 
International on Using Direct Action to End the War on Drugs?

Darwin 21st to 28th September 2003

http://www.angelfire.com/oz/syringefestival/index.html

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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman