‘Dogs of DHS’ demonstrate contraband-sniffing prowess at Senate hearing

Canines trained through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Canine Center proved their skill at detecting contraband material at a demonstration Thursday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Damian Montes, CBP Director of the Canine Center, located in Front Royal, Virginia, testified before the committee.

At a simulated checkpoint, canine officers and their partners demonstrated to senators how canines are utilized to seek out and find currency, firearms and dangerous agricultural products on passengers.

The CBP Canine Program is headquartered in El Paso, Texas and oversees two training delivery sites in El Paso and Front Royal, Virginia.

Both the agent and the canine are taught proper search sequences when searching freight, luggage, mail and building in order to seamlessly interchange staff.