Customs to augment dog squads at airports, intl transit points

In order to better detect the smuggling of contraband, the customs department has decided to increase the number of dog squads at major airports and other international border points.
As many as 19 canines (German Shepherd breed) have been sent for training at BSF's National Training Center for Dogs (NTCD) in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh recently, according to a Finance Ministry official.
These dogs will be deployed at airports in Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Trichy, Trivandrum, Cochin and the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here. Besides, dogs will also be put on duty at Attari-Wagah border where frequent movement and cross-country trade takes place, he said.

"These 19 dogs along with their handlers are being trained at the NTCD. Four other canines, who are completing their six months training at NTCD by this month end, are likely to be deployed on duty from next month onwards," the official said.
The dogs are specifically being trained in detection of drugs like Heroin, Hashish, Marijuana and Amphetamine.
"Usually international airports and land borders are considered vulnerable for smuggling of drugs. Intensive checking at these transit points have resulted in good number of seizures and detection of smuggling cases. The dogs will be deployed to further help customs officials posted there," he said.

Giving details of the training, the official said the canines are specially being trained in giving "passive alerts" after detection of narcotics.

"These dogs will not be giving active alerts by barking after detection thereby not creating panic among passengers or people present there. Instead, they would give passive alerts and sit on the suspected baggage after detection of drugs," the official said.
The decision to augment the dog squads is part of a multi-layer security arrangement being put in place by customs authorities at all the international air and land customs points in the country to check smuggling.
According to a proposal by the Finance Ministry, over 100 canines will be trained in a phased-wise manner at NTCD.

Customs officials said the dogs will be sent to NTCD every quarter in batches of 25-30 for training. Authorities have also started identifying sepoys (constable or hawaldars) with interest and the required skills to undergo training as handlers.