According to an official from the ministry, 15 selected police officers will be taught how to work with the dogs, which is to be called the 'K9 squad'. "In an effort to combat the import of drugs, we are currently working on bringing sniffer dogs to the Maldives. The area allocated in the airport to keep the dogs has been handed over to the police too," the official said. The ministry is to bring 30 sniffer dogs. However, when these dogs will be brought is yet unknown. Reportedly, officials from the ministry had visited neighboring countries such as India and discussed the matter with the relevant bodies of the countries. A police spokesperson had also confirmed this, stating that they have already begun work on assembling the squad. During former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom's presidency, two dogs were kept at the airport to detect drug smugglers. However, after some months, the dogs were sent back.