A sniffer dog could be permanently based in Orkney by the end of the year.
The local alcohol and drug partnership, chaired by area police commander, Chief Inspector Les Donaldson, has won grant funding of £35,000 for drug prevention schemes.
These will include the provision of a dog for the islands.
The initiative will work in a similar way to the Shetland Dogs Against Drugs charity, which has been running for several years.
The dog will work at ferry terminals and at airport to identify suspect substances.
Mr Donaldson said that it was a pro-active scheme and that while the police could provide a sniffer dog, it was usually in response to intelligence about drugs coming into the islands.
He said: “We wanted to provide a permanent asset for the community.”
The dog would also be taken into schools to provide drugs education to youngsters.
The scheme was welcomed by councillors at Orkney’s police and fire sub-committee yesterday.
Chairman, Councillor Andrew Drever said: “This has taken a while but it will be worth it when it gets here. Certainly we want to do as much as we can to keep drugs at a minimum.
“They are such a scourge on society.”
Meanwhile the committee heard that the islands’ police vehicles will have automatic number-plate recognition software installed.
They were told that this would be particularly useful when the requirement to display road tax discs is scrapped from next month.
It is also hoped that the introduction will help Orkney police identify those driving without a licence or insurance.