see also: in April 2003:   CBP Inspectors Seize Marijuana Load Valued at Over $3 Million at Blaine, WA, Port of Entry   Cache of Narcotics, Undocumented Aliens Interdicted Near Beach $30,000,000 of cocaine, 25 undocumented aliens interdicted in two separate landings (pdf - 96 KB.)   Murder Suspect Arrested by Border Patrol Agents discover victim’s body hours after arrest (pdf - 99 KB.)   Border Patrol Alerts Community of Smuggling Tactics (pdf - 15 KB.)   Binational Safety Initiative Gains Momentum U.S. and Mexico Combine Efforts to Make Borders Safe (pdf - 13 KB.)   CBP Inspectors in Laredo Seize 5,090 Pounds of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases   Canine Enforcement Program

contacts for this news release

Washington, D.C.--"Paws to Recognize" is an international program that recognizes the important contributions of professional service dogs. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nominee is narcotic detector dog "Crazy Joe," a male yellow Labrador Retriever. Crazy Joe was selected not only because of his numerous narcotics seizures and contributions to the education of children; but because he, like many of our canines, was procured from an animal shelter.

"The CBP Canine Enforcement program is aimed at combating terrorism and enforcing our nation's laws. Joe is an integral part of our team," said Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. "He might be named Crazy, but he's crazy like a fox."

With humble beginnings, Crazy Joe started his career with the U.S. Customs Service, now CBP, in October of 1998. His first partner, Canine Enforcement Officer (CEO) David Snyder handled Crazy Joe at Dulles International Airport. While assisting DEA agents at Dulles, Crazy Joe was credited with the following significant seizures:

• 17 lbs of marijuana concealed in cardboard box with cellophane and black pepper.
• 531 grams of crack cocaine, 54 grams of marijuana while searching a residence (closet wall).
• 683 grams of crack cocaine, 199 grams of marijuana while searching 2 vehicles.

In January of 2002, after completing his tour of duty at the Canine Enforcement Training Center as the official "demo dog," Crazy Joe was assigned to CEO Cindy Grob, they are currently assigned to John F. Kennedy International Airport, N.Y. CEO Grob and Crazy Joe have made numerous narcotic seizures. Some of the significant seizures:

• 2,854 grams of cocaine concealed in a false bottom suitcase. A controlled delivery of the narcotics was conducted and resulted in 5 additional individuals being arrested.
• 1,054 grams of cocaine in the belly of an aircraft.
• 1,790.1 grams of heroin in a false bottom suitcase, which led to the discovery of a passenger who swallowed 76 pellets of heroin totaling 590.4 grams.
• 2 suitcases which contained coat jackets lined with heroin totaling 1,238.8 grams. Further search of the passenger revealed 204.4 grams in pants belt and 306 grams found in the passenger's shoes.
• Crazy Joe's most recent seizure was a 17.52 lbs of cocaine found in a false bottom suitcase, which also contained 3 cheese cans of cocaine.

Career Totals

Type of Finds	Number of Finds	Amount	$ Value
Marijuana:	106	172 lbs	703,774
Hashish:	62	669 grams	10,035
Cocaine:	10	109 lbs	4,974,900
Heroin:	7	31 lbs	4,993,800
Drug Units:	50	5,255 grams	331,065
Currency:	2 finds		95,000
			$11,108,574.00 (Total)

Many of the dogs CBP acquires are selected from animal shelters and rescue leagues. Dogs meeting the entrance qualifications are taken to the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal, Va. The dogs are taught to detect concealed contraband, such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, ecstacy, methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs. Some dogs are even taught to detect currency.

Canine enforcement teams work a full 8-hour day. Teams assigned to airports and seaports alternate between examining aircraft, vessels, baggage, cargo, and mail. Teams stationed at land border crossings devote their time to examining vehicles and merchandise entering the United States.

At border ports a dog can examine a vehicle in 5 to 6 minutes. Even a cursory search by a Customs inspector would require at least 20 minutes. Dogs can check packages in a fraction of the time needed by Customs mail examiners. A canine team can process 400 to 500 packages in about 30 minutes.

For more information, visit the Customs and Border Protection Web site at www.cpb.gov.