see also: in November 2008:   Thanksgiving Day Marijuana Seizure Yields 450 Pounds at Douglas Port of Entry   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Advises Travelers of Temporary Construction at Otay Mesa Border Crossing   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Los Angeles - Shiloh, an 8-year-old beagle and a member of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for approximately eight years will be retiring on November 25.

Shiloh’s ability to detect agriculture products has resulted in the discovery of significant quantities of prohibited agriculture products as well as illegal drugs. He is trained to detect fruits, vegetables, meats and other prohibited items which may carry pests or plant diseases.

“Shiloh is the most experienced beagle at Los Angeles International Airport and is a high performer, he has served CBP exceptionally well and will be missed,” said Kevin Weeks, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles. He is well known at the port as the “Khat Dog,” Weeks added.

In his eight years of service, Shiloh has detected over 20,000 prohibited agriculture items, including many interceptions of Khat. Khat is a plant used as a stimulant and is classified as an illegal drug in the United States. His last interception of approximately 70 pounds of Khat was in October.

Beagles are selected to be trained as agriculture detection dogs because of their strong sense of smell and their gentle nature with people. Los Angeles International Airport was the first airport to use beagles in 1984 to detect prohibited agriculture products on passengers and luggage arriving on international flights.

Shiloh has had a very successful career, but much of the success is also due to his handler. The handler must be able to communicate, recognize signals and move the dog in the right direction. The longer the dog and the handler work together the easier it becomes for the handler to read the signals the dog is sending.

Shiloh will be adopted by his handler to be a house dog and will spend his retirement years lounging on the sofa, running and sun bathing at the dog beaches and maybe even finding a girlfriend or two.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.