How Airport Dogs Sniff Out Trouble

Dogs have been crucial in improving airport security and enhancing the passenger experience for decades. They are trained to detect explosives, drugs, electronics, cash, and even illnesses such as malaria. In addition, they assist travellers with disabilities and provide therapeutic support to nervous passengers. With their sharp sense of smell and months of training, these dogs play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of travellers.

Explosives

Dogs have been used to improve airport security and enhance the passenger experience for several decades. They are trained to detect explosives and identify several other prohibited items.

Bomb-sniffing dogs are trained to detect a variety of explosive odors and passively sit and look towards the source of the scent. This is because if a drug dog scratches and sniffs at what it finds, it will not cause any harm. However, if a bomb dog touches an explosive device, it could set it off. These dogs are trained to understand that identifying scents brings rewards. A successful find earns them physical and verbal praise, treats, and/or special toys.

Explosive detection dogs have a super-charged sense of smell, which is said to be 1,000 times more sensitive than that of humans. They are trained to detect a variety of explosive odors and can even find mere traces of bomb-making ingredients. The TSA primarily utilizes German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers for their explosives detection canine teams. These dogs undergo rigorous screening to ensure they are in good health, intelligent, highly motivated, and capable of detecting the necessary odors.

The use of explosive detection dogs, along with advanced screening technology, has played a pivotal role in enhancing security measures at airports. These highly skilled dogs have become an integral part of airport security, with over 700 Explosive Detection Canine Teams deployed worldwide. Their presence ensures a heightened level of security and provides peace of mind to travelers and the general public.

Drugs

Drug-detecting dogs, also known as K9 units or narcotic detector dogs, are commonly used at airports to identify passengers carrying illegal substances. These dogs are trained to detect a wide range of narcotics, including marijuana, opium, cocaine, and heroin. They work alongside their handlers, walking through security checkpoints and sniffing the air around passengers and their luggage for any traces of drugs.

The use of drug-detecting dogs at airports has become a common measure to enhance security and combat drug trafficking. These dogs are trained to identify specific scents associated with illegal substances. When a drug-detecting dog identifies a potential suspect, it communicates this to its handler through a pre-established silent cue, such as sitting down next to the suspect's bag. This discreet approach is crucial to avoid tipping off potential drug smugglers.

While drug-detecting dogs are an important tool in airport security, their presence has also raised concerns among travellers, especially those carrying small amounts of drugs for personal use. Interestingly, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has indicated a shift in priorities, with a focus on international flights rather than domestic travellers carrying minimal amounts. This shift may be influenced by the increasing legalization and acceptance of certain substances, such as cannabis, in various parts of the world.

It is worth noting that drug-detecting dogs are not infallible. Their effectiveness can vary depending on various factors, including the type of drug, the quality, and the quantity being carried. Additionally, the training and experience of the dog and handler also play a significant role in their success rate. Despite this, drug-detecting dogs remain a valuable asset in airport security, providing an additional layer of protection against drug-related crimes.

Although the primary focus of drug-detecting dogs is to identify illegal substances, they can also be trained to detect other contraband items that may pose a security threat. These items could include certain organic goods, such as specific fruits, vegetables, flowers, or sugarcane, which are prohibited from being transported between certain states or countries.

Electronics and cash

While drug-sniffing dogs are common in airports, they are not searching for drugs most of the time. They are usually deployed to protect aircraft from bombs and ecosystems from invasive species.

In addition to explosives, drugs, and contraband, airport dogs are also trained to detect cash. Currency Detection Dogs (CCDs) are used to identify undeclared money, which is often used for nefarious purposes, such as the trading of wild animals and sex trafficking. These dogs are able to differentiate between bills below and above $10,000 USD, the amount that must be declared in most countries.

With the increasing digitisation of the world, including crime, electronics-sniffing dogs are a new addition to the team. These dogs are trained to detect USB thumb drives, which often contain evidence to prevent attacks or put criminals away. The faintness of electronics odours makes training these dogs a challenging and lengthy process. However, they have proven their worth by helping in the arrest of notorious criminals.

Airport dogs are also used to detect illnesses. Medical Detection Dogs in the UK, for example, have been successful in sniffing out cancer, Parkinson's Disease, and other ailments. They have also been applied to detect malaria, with a 70% success rate in initial tests. This method provides a non-invasive way of screening for diseases at ports of entry, similar to how sniffer dogs detect drugs at airports.

Wildlife and animal parts

In addition to controlling live wildlife, dogs are also used to detect wildlife and animal parts that are being smuggled or illegally traded. The Beagle Brigade in the US, for example, is trained to identify not just explosives, drugs, and cash but also wildlife, animal parts such as ivory and rhino horns, and foreign plants. The introduction of foreign plants or animals can have devastating effects on local ecosystems, so it is crucial to intercept these items at airports.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service's Wildlife Detector Dog Program is another example of dogs being used to combat the illegal wildlife trade. This program uses highly trained shelter dogs, typically Labradors and Lab mixes, to sniff out packages that may contain animals or animal parts being smuggled. Unfortunately, by the time many of these packages are inspected, the animals inside are already dead, a tragic consequence of the illegal wildlife trade.

While dogs are incredibly useful for detecting wildlife and animal parts, it's important to note that their capabilities are not perfect, and studies have shown that their detection can have a high error rate. As a result, security operators cannot solely rely on dogs for these tasks and must also employ other screening technologies. Nevertheless, dogs play a crucial role in improving airport security and protecting ecosystems from invasive species.

Illnesses and diseases

While airport dogs are commonly associated with the detection of explosives and contraband, they are also trained to identify certain illnesses and diseases. This is a relatively new application of canine skills, with research in 2018 indicating that dogs could be trained to detect specific illnesses by sniffing people's odours.

One such illness is malaria, which has been the focus of several studies. In initial tests, dogs were able to identify malaria-infected individuals with a 70% success rate, and in another study, they correctly identified clothing worn by malaria-positive people with a 90% success rate. This ability to detect malaria in humans, even before symptoms appear, could be a non-invasive way to screen for the disease at ports of entry.

In addition to malaria, there is potential for dogs to be trained to detect other diseases as well. Medical Detection Dogs in the United Kingdom have had proven success in sniffing out cancer, Parkinson's Disease, and other human ailments. This suggests that dogs could be used more broadly to help prevent the spread of diseases and cut down on the transmission of germs.

While the use of dogs for illness detection is still in its early stages, the potential benefits are significant. With further research and training, airport dogs could become even more valuable tools in maintaining public health and safety, beyond their already crucial role in detecting explosives and contraband.

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