Structure, Staffing & Success:
The CBP Canine Enforcement Program (CEP), located within the Office of Field Operations (OFO), Cargo and Conveyance Security, is an integral part of the Agency’s counter-terrorism and narcotics interdiction strategy. The Canine Training Center Front Royal (CCFR) develops course content and provides training for CBP Officers (K9). Currently there are over 1200 OFO canine teams fulfilling the CBP mission throughout the United States. The vast majority of our resources are located along the Southwest border, from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California. Canine teams are also strategically assigned to other ports of entry around the country, and located at pre-clearance stations abroad.

As their core mission, CBP Officers use specially trained detector dogs to interdict large quantities of illegal narcotic substances, concealed humans, smuggled agriculture products, and unreported currency at our nation's ports of entry. The Canine Enforcement Program is also involved in specialized detection programs aimed at combating terrorist threats at our nation's borders and international airports.

Other Agency Opportunities:
Although the Canine Training Center is primarily focused on the training and development of OFO Canine Enforcement teams, there are also detector dog training opportunities, on a reimbursable basis, for other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The program also provides limited assistance to state and local law enforcement entities on a case-by-case basis.

Evaluation:
The Canine Enforcement Program evaluates each of its teams for detection proficiency once a year. Narcotic detector dogs are tested 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 evaluated on their detection capabilities regularly. The officers are also evaluated, ensuring that they possess the critical handling skills necessary to successfully deploy an OFO detector dog.

Other Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies may participate in these evaluations. The prerequisites for attendance are: the officer and his assigned canine must have successfully completed the CBP Basic Narcotic Detector Dog Course. No additional expense will be incurred by CBP as a result of the team's inclusion in the evaluation process. All outside agency requests must receive prior approval from CEP Headquarters.

Plans for the Future:
The program will continue to train and equip canine teams to maintain the agency’s efforts at anti-terrorism, border security, selective targeting, interception of large loads of narcotics, detection of smuggled agriculture products and currency, advanced training of officers, and prevention measures through outreach activities to this country's youth. These efforts will be of primary importance. Through the use of risk management and strategic problem solving techniques, all aspects of the Canine Enforcement Program will continue to be improved and updated to meet the changing needs of CBP and the United States of America.