Strengthening Iraq’s Anti-Narcotics Capacity through K9 Handler Training and Operational Readiness in Baghdad

IIn December 2024, the EU-ACT delivered a specialised K9 training module in Baghdad in partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior’s Directorate of Anti-Narcotics and Psychoactive Substances (DANPS). The activity was designed to support the establishment and operational readiness of a newly formed K9 unit, created earlier that year to strengthen drug detection capabilities across Iraq’s law enforcement services.  

Although the unit had already acquired well-trained canines and motivated personnel, it had not yet conducted field operations. An initial assessment identified a key gap: handlers, recently appointed, required practical experience and structured guidance on effective interaction with their dogs in operational contexts. In response, the training focused on enhancing handler–canine coordination, emphasizing communication, control, and search execution in realistic scenarios. 

EU-ACT experts worked closely with local instructors—many of whom bring extensive operational experience—to deliver hands-on exercises simulating vehicle inspections and field searches. The training also fostered cooperation between DANPS, the Federal Police, and international partners, contributing to a broader capacity-building effort in counter-narcotics operations. 

By the end of the module, participants demonstrated significant progress in applying learned techniques, highlighting the importance of continuous practice and sustained support. The initiative marks an important step in building a capable, coordinated K9 unit that can effectively contribute to anti-narcotics efforts in Iraq, while laying the groundwork for future cooperation, advanced training, and institutional development. 

About EU-ACT

EU-ACT (EU Action against Organised Crime and Terrorism) is a European Union–funded programme designed to strengthen the capacity of partner countries to effectively combat organised crime, illicit trafficking and terrorism, while promoting human rights, gender equality and the rule of law.) 

Implemented over five years (June 2023–May 2028) by FIAP (Spain), the Carabinieri (Italy) and CIVIPOL (France), EU-ACT operates globally, with a particular focus on regions including the Middle East. EU-ACT provides flexible, demand-driven support tailored to the needs of partner countries, enhancing both law enforcement and judicial capacities. Its activities include specialised training, threat assessment and criminal intelligence, financial investigations, cross-border cooperation, and judicial collaboration, while fostering information exchange and interagency coordination. 

EU-ACT also promotes evidence-based analysis, supports the disruption of high-risk criminal networks, and strengthens responses to the crime–terror nexus through enhanced operational and strategic cooperation. In Iraq, EU-ACT is implementing bilateral activities with national counterparts, focusing on strengthening law enforcement capabilities and fostering judicial cooperation. These efforts are aimed at improving operational readiness, supporting specialised units, and enhancing coordination in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking.