Canine teams are very specialized and dogs possess varying degrees of expertise in specific areas. There are four types of former Customs-trained detection canines: narcotics, currency, chemicals, and explosives. The narcotics canines are trained to detect marijuana, hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and Ecstasy. The explosives dogs are trained to detect several major types of explosives. Chemical detector dogs are trained to detect the essential vapor signature of several different lethal chemicals.

Hard at work
Most of the Legacy Customs-trained canine teams are located along the southwest border, from Brownsville, Tex., to San Diego, Calif. Canine teams are also assigned to other ports of entry around the country, to international mail facilities, and to pre-clearance stations overseas.

Canine teams can cut inspection times by more than half. At border ports, a dog can examine a vehicle in five to six minutes. Even a cursory search by a CBP inspector would require at least 20 minutes. A canine team can process 400 to 500 packages in about 30 minutes; it would take several inspectors an entire shift to process the same number of packages.

A few good dogs
The canine enforcement program (CEP) finds the dogs it needs in a number of ways. Members of the general public can donate a dog. There are also people working for the training center who travel around the country visiting animal shelters and testing and selecting dogs that might otherwise be destroyed. These lucky dogs get "a new leash on life," as well as a chance to make a real difference in the future of this country.

In 1998, the canine program established a breeding program based on a program developed by the Australian Customs Service. The American breeding program started as a way to increase the number of dogs suitable for training. The program started with 12 Labrador Retrievers donated by the Australian Customs Service. These dogs were all graduates of an extremely successful Australian Customs breeding program. The dogs are bred for their genetic abilities to detect drugs, explosives, and other contraband. The CBP program has produced 15 litters so far, with another on the way.

Training
The CEP trains dogs to alert to contraband either passively or aggressively depending upon the substance being detected. Dogs that work in international mail facilities, cargo areas, and on airport luggage belts are trained to detect narcotics aggressively - that is, by alerting the handler to their "find" by scratching and biting at the box, container, or piece of luggage that the dog suspects might contain drugs.

But dogs that work among passengers are trained to react passively to possible narcotics or currency by sitting next to the suspected individual or package. Dogs looking for explosives are trained to passively alert when they detect explosives, no matter where they may be concealed. Chemical detector dogs are also trained to alert passively. After alerting to a suspected substance, the dogs are rewarded with play: a rolled up towel to fetch before they go back to work.

After graduation, a group of supervisory canine enforcement officers test the dogs every other year in their actual work environments on their ability to detect the odors of marijuana, hashish, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy. Dogs trained to detect other odors, such as currency or non-narcotic hazardous substances, are also reevaluated regularly on their detection capabilities. The handlers are also reevaluated to ensure that they possess the critical skills they need to work successfully with their detector dog.

Training canines for other agencies
Although the Canine Enforcement Training Center is focused on the training and development of CBP canine teams, there are also training opportunities for other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The program provides assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies on a case-by-case basis. A few of the outside agencies that have received training are the Texas Department of Public Safety; Virginia State Police; Virginia Department of Corrections, Warren County; Va. Sheriff's Department; and the Chesterfield County, Va. Sheriff's Department.

The twilight years
All the dogs - whether they are rescued from a shelter, donated by their owners, or are part of the breeding program - find a good home at the end of their careers. No dog is ever sent to an animal shelter. CBP employees adopt many of the dogs that don't make it though training, and handlers usually take their retiring canine partner home with them.

Plans for the future
The program will continue to use its resources to support CBPs mission. Initiatives focusing on anti-terrorism and border security, selective targeting, the interception of large loads of narcotics, advanced training of officers, and prevention measures through outreach activities to youth groups, will be of primary importance. The program will continue to be improved or redesigned to meet the changing needs of CBP and its customers by using risk management and strategic problem solving techniques.

In the beginning, the mission of the U.S. Customs Service canine enforcement program was to "develop, execute, and oversee customer-driven policy needs for the allocation, training, and support of canine resources," said Lee T. Titus, director of the Canine Enforcement Program.

That mission didn't change when the U.S. Customs Service became a part of Customs and Border Protection under the Department of Homeland Security. It continues to be an important part of the fight against terrorism and criminals who try to harm America and the people who live here.

Seizure Activity for FY 2002   Total Number of Drug and Currency Detections 9415 Number of Resulting Arrests 4980 Marijuana 638,372 lbs. Cocaine 33,408 lbs. Heroin 995 lbs. Opium 255 lbs. Other Drugs (Pills/Tablets) 1,819,146 units Currency $31.4 million

This is the third in a four-part series to introduce the canines of Customs and Border Protection. Next month - the former Immigration canine program.

Photo Credit: Gerald L. Nino

An Instructor at the CBP Canine Enforcement Training Center demonstrates the abilities of one of the chemical detection dogs.