Test 3 Drug Detector Dogs in Customs work

It was in the early seventies that the drug problem began to assume alarming proportions. The ways of drug smuggling are many and varied. A detector dog may make a find even on a routine patrol.

When searching for drugs one must always adapt to the situation at hand. When working out of doors the handler must make allowances for temperature and terrain. Above all he must remember that currents of air can bring the scent to the dog from quite far away. Once the dog has caught the scent, with proper assistance from its handler it can find the drugs even in a ditch full of water.

In frontier surveillance, a large part of drug detection work naturally involves the movement of persons and goods on highways. Lorry inspection halls are of great help; among other things, they make it easier to unload the goods. When the lorry has a big load it becomes clear that the dog needs a strong retrieving instinct to locate the hiding place exactly. The top, bottom and sides of the vehicle are also searched.

Rail traffic is also monitored by Customs. Not only are trains inspected: left-luggage lockers at stations are also checked. Here, too, locating the drug is the hardest part of the job. The hiding place is high up: the dog demonstrates agility, self-confidence and courage. When it cannot get any further on its own, it still shows its handler where the drugs are hidden by jumping in that direction. The rest is up to the handler.

Drug detector dogs can be used almost anywhere, including large ships. Often several dogs are used at once. They assist the special squads on land and the mobile rummage crews.

Airports are another important area of operations. Both passenger traffic and air freight are increasing steadily in volume; drug detector dogs have been successful again and again and we couldn’t do without them now. No matter how cunning the smuggler’s methods are – and especially in air traffic they are often very clever indeed – they can seldom fool the canine nose. Here, for example, passenger luggage is being inspected. It looks like child’s play the way the detector dog picks out and indicates the right suitcase.

The standing rule for all operations is that the head of the operation decides when and where to use a drug detector dog; the dog’s handler decides how and how long to use his dog.

TASKS

Task 1. Read the text. Put the words in the order you’ve come across them in the text.

a) airport

b) rail traffic

c) ships

d) left-luggage lockers

e) lorries on highways

Task 2. Find the endings of the sentences.

1. Not only are trains inspected …

2. When the lorry has a big load it becomes clear …

3. No matter how cunning the smuggler’s methods are …

4. Once the dog has caught the scent …

5. Rail traffic …

6. When it cannot get any further on its own …

7. When working out of doors …

Task 3. True or false?

1. Above all he must remember that currents of air cannot bring the scent to the dog.

2. The sides of the vehicle are searched, but not the top and the bottom.

3. Locating the drug is the hardest part of the job.

4. Drug detector dogs can be used almost anywhere excluding large ships.

5. Airports are another important area of operations.

6. The head of the operation decides how and how long to use the dog.

Task 4. Here are several key messages of the text. Choose the best one and give your arguments.

1. Dogs specially trained to smell drugs and explosives have become an indispensable tool in customs activities.

2. Successful using of dogs at Customs depends both on the dog handler and the dog.

3. Connected with great difficulties in detecting narcotics a special Drug Detector Dog program has been offered.