Dubai Customs unveils K9 vehicles in defence against drug smugglers

Dubai Customs has unveiled a new fleet of high-tech vehicles for its K9 Unit to strengthen their front line defence against drug smuggling and other cross-border crimes.

The vehicles are equipped with advanced smart technologies designed to improve field operations and ensure the welfare of the customs dogs.

These include cameras that monitor and record dogs inside their kennels, driver-attention monitoring systems, and thermal sensors that continuously track kennel temperatures. If temperatures exceed safe limits, instant alerts are sent to both the driver and assistant.

The vehicles also carry dedicated emergency number plates to help them reach inspection sites quickly during heavy traffic or emergencies, integrated with Dubai Customs’ central operations room, enabling live monitoring of K9 missions in the field.

To support longer deployments, the vehicles feature independently air-conditioned kennels, automated water dispensers, feeding bowls, non-slip flooring, integrated access ramps, three emergency exits, storage for inspection equipment and first-aid kits.

Dubai Customs’ K9 Unit currently includes 28 highly trained dogs, 20 of them specialised in narcotics detection and eight trained to detect explosives. The unit is supported by 24 handlers, including 20 men and four women.

Operational activity has also continued to grow, with the K9 Unit conducting 341 field deployments in 2023, increasing to 419 in 2024. So far in 2025, the unit has completed 290 deployments to support customs inspections across multiple border points.

The K9 Unit operates from a purpose-built facility that includes 54 kennels, five quarantine kennels, five specialised training kennels, a veterinary examination room, dedicated training grounds and, with the addition of the new vehicles, a fleet of six specialised K9 transport vehicles.

Dubai Customs said the launch of the new fleet reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening border security through advanced technologies and specialised operational solutions.

The initiative is expected to enhance inspectors’ ability to detect narcotics and prohibited substances at an early stage, while supporting legitimate trade and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in border security and the fight against organised cross-border crime.

الجاهزية الميدانية تبدأ من الاستثمار في أحدث التقنيات.
ومن هذا المنطلق، دشّنت جمارك دبي أسطولًا جديدًا لمركبات وحدة K9 الجمركية، مزودًا بأحدث الأنظمة الذكية التي تعزز سرعة الاستجابة، وترفع كفاءة عمليات التفتيش، وتوفر بيئة تشغيلية آمنة للكلاب الجمركية أثناء تنفيذ المهام الميدانية. pic.twitter.com/ruByJSQN1H

— جمارك دبي | Dubai Customs (@DubaiCustoms) June 28, 2026