The WCO convened the Canine (K9) Expert Group Meeting in Melbourne, Australia from the 12 to 16 February 2024. The Meeting brought together subject matter experts from multiple leading Customs detector dog programmes to discuss canine synthetic drug detection, modernizing canine training, and other essential elements of a highly effective detector dog programme. The meeting also shared best practices in various areas of detector dog operations.

This Meeting marks the start of a series of guidelines, training materials, and other resources to modernize and develop the K9 forces of Members and enhance their capability to deal with the emerging synthetic drugs threat.

The K9 Expert Group is convened under the Synthetic Drugs Detection Project (SDDP), implemented by the WCO and funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State. The SDDP is part of the WCO Drugs and Precursors Programme.