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

Congress

‘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...

March 4, 2016 10:56 am

< a min read

CBP Canine Officer Dowling and his partner demonstrate how a canine is utilized to seek out and find explosives on passengers during the hearing at the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on how Canine Programs Contribute to Homeland Security.

(Photo by James Tourtellotte)

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.