Evaluation of the Detector Dog Service (DDS) Program: Annexes

• Stream: Travellers
• Mode: Air
• Date: April 19, 2022
• Place: Pearson International Airport, GTA
• Seizure value: $42,312
• Enforcement action: Level 1 seizure, fine paid by traveller

Case narrative

1. While searching a Turkish Airways flight, Detector Dog Ridgeway approached a female traveller and immediately indicated towards her purse.
2. As a result, the traveller was referred to secondary for further examination.
3. In secondary, the BSO discovered the traveller had 30,004 USD and 3,270 Euros. The traveller admitted to concealing the funds, as she was concerned about withdrawing the funds from her country of origin.
4. BSO educated the woman and fined her $250.
5. It should be noted that this traveller completed a similar traveller itinerary 2 months later (in June 2022). Thanks to the previous interception by the DDS team, and the subsequent education upon the discovery of contraband, the passenger properly declared all currency upon entering Canada this second time.

Contributions to the CBSA and Canada

Facilitation: Currency DDS teams can screen 250-300 travellers in less than 30 minutes.

[redacted]

Non-intrusive selective referrals: Detector dogs [redacted].

Following the money: Undeclared currency could be proceeds of a crime or helping to fund criminal or terrorist organizations. Finding and seizing concealed funds contributes to the enforcement mandate of the CBSA and keeps Canada safe.

Integrity of other programs: There are several reasons a passenger may conceal currency. They may want to continue collecting government assistance without declaring their assets or income. Finding and seizing concealed currency upholds the integrity of other Government of Canada programs.

Educating the public: Travellers usually carry funds on their person rather than luggage, giving currency DDS teams the opportunity to get close to travellers and to educate them on the importance of declaring currency.

Mentoring the front-line: By dealing with the referrals of the DDS team and using the handler experience, the BSOs learn about currency finds and seizures.

• Stream: Travellers
• Mode: Land
• Date: October 21, 2021
• Place: Ambassador Bridge, SOR
• Enforcement action: Seizure of 2 firearms and 256 g of cannabis, traveller arrested and sentenced to 1 year in jail

Case narrative

1. Two travellers in a vehicle from the US claimed to have made a wrong turn and ended up at the Ambassador Bridge POE.
2. As the BSO began questioning the travellers, the driver mentioned the car was in “valet mode,” and therefore the glovebox and trunk could not be opened. Kyle and Piper were called.
3. Piper indicated on one of the travellers, the trunk, the centre console, and the glovebox. BSOs then used a fiberscope to continue searching, and eventually were able to open the compartments within the vehicle.
4. Once opened, BSOs discovered one handgun with the serial numbered filed off, a second handgun that was determined to be stolen, and 256 g of marijuana.
5. Local police were notified, and the driver was later sentenced to 1 year in jail.

Contributions to the CBSA and Canada

Keeping guns and drugs off the street: By indicating on contraband and providing grounds for detention, the DDS team helped keep guns and drugs off the streets, especially important with the rise of gun violence in Canada.

[redacted]. It would have taken several hours and 4-5 BSOs to tow the vehicle to X-ray it.

Deterrence factor: The presence of a DDS team acts as a deterrent to travellers who might break the law, leading to spontaneous admission in some cases.

Boosting the morale and experience of BSOs: Once a detector dog indicates on a vehicle, officers are motivated to search until the contraband is found. The indication from a DDS team gives BSOs the confidence that their suspicion on the presence of contraband was correct. Due to their experience and specialization, detector dog handlers can help mentor less experienced BSOs on what to look for while examining a traveller or a vehicle.

Dogs are highly specialized: Detector dogs are the only detection tool always used by the same individual. Other tools may not be properly maintained, and are only as capable as the user. DDS teams are a highly specialized and selective tool.

One seizure can lead to more: BSOs are more likely to request DDS team assistance when they are already on site, as they have confidence and trust in their expertise.

• Stream: Travellers
• Mode: Air
• Date: December 28, 2021 to January 3, 2022
• Place: Calgary International Airport, PRA

Case narrative

A week in the life of an FPA DDS team:

At the Calgary Airport, the two FPA teams aim to screen 100% of all international overseas flights. During the week of December 28, 2021 to January 3, 2022, the DDS team issued 3 enforcement actions concerning three separate cases:

1. Kodiak indicated on a bag on the carousel. The traveller had declared admissible food in primary and therefore was not referred to secondary. The traveller had a verbal warning on their file from the handler for bringing inadmissible food previously. Upon examination of the bags, the handler noticed bone structure of hands and paws belonging to the inadmissible invasive grass- cutter rats. The traveller was issued an AAAMP.
2. Kodiak indicated on a delayed bag. The handler made the connection to another bag with the same name tag in secondary. Both bags were examined revealing an array of various regulated meat and food products, including primate body parts. A DNA test preformed by Environment Canada revealed meat of Western Red Colobus Monkey and Sooty Mangabey Monkey. Amongst the monkey was domestic cow, frog, tuna, and red river hog (a species that could carry the ASF virus). The traveller was issued an AAAMP.
3. Kodiak indicated on a bag on the carousel. The traveller insisted there was no meat. Upon examination, 5 bags of meat and 4.5 kg of plant materials including bark, roots and soil were found. The traveller was released with an AAAMP warning as their children were showing symptoms of COVID-19 and needed to go for testing immediately per the COVID-19 protocol.

Contributions to the CBSA and Canada

Protecting Canada’s environment and biodiversity: Soil and plant materials are internationally recognized as a high-risk pathway for introducing pests and animal pathogens. By interdicting them, the DDS team protected Canada’s biodiversity from potentially invasive species and pests.

Protecting farming and agriculture industries: FPA DDS team prevent the introduction of foreign species that can result in disastrous impacts on the farming and agriculture industries. The African Swine Fever could cost billions in losses to the pork industry in Canada.

Combating wildlife trafficking: By indicating on meat of endangered animals such as primates, the DDS team contributes to Canada’s stand against wildlife poaching and trafficking.

[redacted]: Nearly all travellers carry some sort of an FPA product in their luggage. X-raying and examining all bags on a flight requires extensive time and resources. FPA DDS teams only indicate on bags with FPA products that may require intercepting. DDS teams are an efficient, selective and non- intrusive detection tool. Additionally, a detector dog does not stop once they indicate on one bag, but continues to screen the rest of the travellers and their baggage. This autonomy is not replicated by any other detection tool.

Educating and deterring the travelling public: Not all inadmissible FPA products result in an AAAMP, but they may result in raising the awareness of travellers to the importance of declaring accurately. Seeing the detector dog searching may be a strong deterrent factor as well.

Mentoring the front line: FPA DDHs are generally considered subject- matter experts in examining bags for FPA products, and issuing a subsequent AAAMP, if and when warranted. These skills may be taught by the handlers to their front-line colleagues.

• Stream: Commercial
• Mode: Marine
• Date: December 21, 2021
• Place: Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility, Pacific
• Seizure value: $18 million
• Enforcement action: Level 1 seizure, fine paid by traveller

Case narrative

1. DDH Tracey was called in to the container examination facility after arriving home from a shift.
2. Kaya performed a search on the offloaded part of the container and indicated on one box and showed interest in two other boxes. Due to the strong chemical smell the container emitted, the handler did not send the detector dog into the container. After offloading more boxes and dispersing them on the floor, the detector dog gave positive indications on the two additional boxes.
3. Ion swabs were performed and showed negative results. However, due to the detector dog indication, samples were sent to the lab.
4. The boxes were concealed and undeclared, and the shipment was listed as household goods.
5. The lab later confirmed that the powders were fentanyl precursors.

Contributions to the CBSA and Canada

Safety of Canadians: 86% of all opioid-related deaths in 2021 involved fentanyl. Finding and seizing illegal and highly toxic substances such as fentanyl is a direct contribution to the safety and health of Canadians.

Safety of BSOs: Other detection tools are not always available and, as seen in this case with the ion scans, sometimes they are imperfect. Without the presence of the DDS team, the safety of the BSOs could have been compromised as exposure to fentanyl can be fatal.

Reputation of Canada: With the increase in illegal drug exports from Canada, including fentanyl, the interception of the precursors shipment contributed to preventing more fentanyl from being produced and distributed. ^{Footnote 3}

Reliability and efficiency: Other detection technologies are not always available. [redacted]. The LSI requires 3-4 BSOs with specialized training to operate it.

One-of-a-kind detection tool: Other detection technologies, such as X-ray machines, require BSO expertise in order to detect contraband - although powders are visible on an X-ray, the X-ray cannot detect what type of powder it is, whether it is a narcotic or an admissible product.

Mentoring the front line: In this case, BSOs were able to learn firsthand how to use different detection technologies, what smells to avoid, what and where to look for suspicious goods, and the reliability of the different detection tools, such as the Ion Scan.

• Stream: Commercial
• Mode: Postal
• Location: International Mail Processing Centre, GTA

Case narrative

FPA DDS teams

• Jonathan Tjan and his detector dog Perce work together to find inadmissible food, plant, and animal products at the mail centre
• Mail from high-risk countries is placed in a room in rows, and the FPA detector dogs can quickly search through a large quantity of boxes within a few minutes
• They are also available to assist BSOs when they see something on an X-ray that looks suspicious, and train less experienced BSOs on what contraband looks like under the X-ray
• On an average day, each FPA team will search 600-800 parcels and often get a minimum of 5 positive indications

D&F DDS teams

• Darrin Azzano and detector dog, Pepsi, search for drugs and firearms at the mail centre
• Pepsi is able to search thousands of parcels for drugs and firearms (imports or exports) within 15-20 minutes. When any contraband is found, BSOs are called in to assist with the seizure
• Darrin has built relationships with staff at the shipping warehouses, and plans his day around their import schedules
• On any given day, Darrin and Pepsi will find 12 to 55 parcels containing contraband

Contributions to the CBSA and Canada

Protecting the front line: BSO safety is a priority for the Agency. Detector dogs are able to indicate on packages without opening them, and potentially exposing BSOs to harmful chemicals or drugs.

Facilitation: Detector dogs can search thousands of packages in a matter of minutes (depending on the type of team), ensuring that legitimate imports and exports enter/leave Canada without delay.

You can’t fool the detector dogs: As detector dogs are trained on odours, they are not easily tricked by evolving methods of concealment. Other detection tools may not have the ability to keep up with new concealment methods.

Integrity and reputation of Canada: Searching exports and seizing contraband not only disrupts criminal organizations, but maintains the integrity and reputation of the CBSA and of Canada. ^{Footnote 4}

Information is shared across the Agency: DDS handlers receive calls from other handlers and BSOs across the Agency, asking if they’ve noticed trends. Handlers are able to share information on what they see, helping BSOs make seizures across the country.