Australia gifts three detector dogs to Thai Customs in partnership against border-controlled drugs
11 December 2025
The Australian Border Force will formally hand over three Labrador retriever detector dogs – Pixel, Wafer and Walshy – to Thai Customs today, further strengthening the two countries’ collective efforts in the detection of border-controlled drugs.
The three dogs will join Viking and Paddy who were gifted to Thai Customs in December 2024.
Since establishing the ABF’s office in Thailand in 2000, they have seen engagements, cooperation and partnerships extend to a broad range of Thai agencies involved in the customs, border security and law enforcement.
Under the 2024-2027 ABF-Thai Customs Detector Dog Cooperation project, the ABF has committed to training six detector dog teams for Thailand over three years, to be deployed with their K-9 counterpart across frontline operational areas in Thailand.
For the first time, this year’s detector dogs will be handled by female Thai Customs officers who have successfully completed the ABF’s International Detector Dog Handling Training Course.
Superintendent James Ryan, ABF Counsellor (Mekong) noted that ABF’s 25-year presence in Thailand has seen many successes including the current project on development and deployment of detector dog capabilities.
“The Australian Border Force only provides detector dogs to trusted partner countries with strong bilateral ties, highlighting our commitment to Australia-Thai cooperation to combating drug trafficking and other illicit activities,” Superintendent James Ryan said.
“Today we farewell Pixel, Wafer and Walshy, knowing they’re going to a great home under the guidance of internationally accredited handlers, pursuing a very important mission to the benefit of both our countries.”
“The Australian Border Force looks forward to the next 25 years working hand-in-hand with Thailand and our strategic partner in Thai Customs to continue enabling trade whilst holding criminal actors who seek us harm responsible.”
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