Overview
Since 1975, the Customs and Excise Department has introduced detector dogs to assist in passenger and cargo clearance duties for combating drug trafficking. Today, the Department has developed a professional canine force comprising more than 100 officers with dedicated units responsible for operations, tactical training and puppies development. The detector dog teams of Operations Units are deployed to the airport, land boundary control points and container terminals for the detection of narcotics, explosives, cash, firearms and tobaccos. To enhance enforcement efficiency and sustainable development for the growing challenges at the forefront, the Customs Detector Dog Division was upgraded to the Customs Canine Force in June 2020.
Types of Detector Dogs
By nature of job duties, Customs Detector Dogs are classified into five categories namely, Drug Detector Dogs, Explosive Detector Dogs, Cash Detector dogs, Firearm Detector Dogs and Tobacco Detector Dogs. In the early development stage, dog handlers and detector dogs mainly performed anti-narcotics duty. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the Department started the training of explosive detector dogs for enforcement actions on counter-terrorism activities. In addition, upon the implementation of Cross-boundary Movement of Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Ordinance on 16th July 2018, cash detector dogs were introduced for detectinglarge quantity of cash at entry / exit points. In 2021, the Department set up the first Firearm Detector Dog Team to combat the smuggling of firearms, firearm component parts and ammunition into Hong Kong, effectively strengthened Customs' capability in preventing terrorist activities, protecting the lives of citizens and safeguarding national security. In 2022, Tobacco Detector Dog Teams were established to fortify Customs' enforcement effectiveness in suppressing illicit cigarettes.
All the five types of detector dogs mentioned above are responsible for screening travellers and their personal baggage, cargoes and cross-boundary conveyances at Customs control points. They will sit still in front of the object when they detect suspicious scent or discover any findings.
Breeds
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Dog Breeds
Customs Detector Dogs include Labrador Retriever and Springer Spaniel. Labrador Retrievers have a keen sense of smell, friendly personality and strong obedience which are suitable for passenger and cargo screening. Springer Spaniels also have a strong olfactory and a high degree of obedience. Their active and exploring characters make them fit for working in a confined space.
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Origins
In the past, Customs Detector Dogs are mainly originated from the Mainland, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.Since 2016, the Department also cooperates with other local law enforcement agencies to breed puppies, and successfully begins its own in-house breeding programme in 2020 to stabilize the supply of quality working dogs. All these dogs receive professional training when they reach one year old before becoming detector dogs.
Professional training
The Department attaches great importance to the quality and performance of detector dogs. Dog handlers and detector dogs have to undergo a 10-week intensive training programme for the development of bonding and the enhancement of enforcement capabilities. In Jan 2021, the Customs Canine Force successfully attained accreditation for its Drugs Detector Dog Handling Training Programme, which makes the department the first laws enforcement agency in Hong Kong to own such qualification in dog handling area. The training is pitched at QF Level 4, the same QF level as a local Associate Degree or a Higher Diploma. The accreditation recognizes Customs" edge in having a quality training mechanism to develop professional dog handlers which can further enhance professional management of canine force in the long run.
To upkeep the expertise of dog handlers in various spheres, the Department adopts multi-pronged approach by collaboration with various academia, professional institutions and law enforcement agencies in order to equip our officers with related professional trainings for working in different scenarios.
Dogs originated from the Mainland and overseas, have already received basic training from their respective training institutes. Upon arrival, the Department will also provide adaptation training and assessments to the detector dogs before they start working at the forefront.
Story highlights
Hong Kong Customs sets up first Tobacco Detector Dog Team
On 15th July 2022, the Customs Canine Force announced the setup of its first Tobacco Detector Dog Team to further strengthening Customs' capabilities and enforcement effectiveness in combating illicit cigarettes. This was further to the establishment of the first Firearm Detector Dog Team last year that the Force trained up its tobacco detector dogs and dog handlers all by its own in a bid to realize its development strategies towards multifarious capability and diversification in the detector dogs' sniffing ability.
First successful co-operation between Hong Kong Customs and AVSECO in working-dog breeding
Hong Kong Customs and the Aviation Security Company Limited have co-operated for the first time in a canine breeding programme, having successfully bred eight Labrador retriever puppies on 5th February 2022 (the fifth day of the Lunar New Year). The result not only put into practice the framework agreement on co-operation signed by both parties in July last year, and established co-operation in the field of canine enforcement, but also strengthened the operational capability of respective detector dog teams to safeguard Hong Kong together.
Hong Kong Customs sets up the first Firearm Detector Dog Team
On 15th December 2021, the Customs Canine Force announced the set up of its first Firearm Detector Dog Team to further strengthen Customs' capability on the front line in combating the smuggling of firearms, firearm component parts and ammunition into Hong Kong for preventing terrorist activities, protecting the lives of citizens and safeguarding national security. This was also the first time for Customs to conduct local training for firearm detector dogs and their handlers on its own.
First successful co-operation between C&ED and FSD in working-dog breeding
The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) have co-operated for the first time in a canine breeding programme, successfully bred six Springer Spaniel puppies on February 12, 2021(the first day of the Lunar New Year). Springer Spaniel was chosen as the breed dog given its vigorous character, strong sniff sense and high obedience. The co-operative canine breeding programme with the theme "Together, we incubate the future" symbolises the injection of new blood into the dog teams of both departments, and the inheritance of professionalism in Customs detector dogs' law enforcement and FSD rescue dogs' commitment to serve the community.
Detector dog Fifi gave birth to 6 puppies in July 2020
Customs detector dog Fifi successfully gave birth to 6 puppies in July 2020. They are the first batch of self-breed puppies in the Department. We wish them a healthy childhood and hope they will grow up to become smart detector dogs like their mother Fifi!
Customs Canine Force officers graduated from the Canine Breeding Training Programme in July 2020
Ten officers of the Customs Canine Force graduated from the "Canine Breeding Training Programme" which was jointly organised by the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) Veterinary Medical Centre and the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of CityU. The training programme was CityU's first pilot canine breeding course tailor-made for local law enforcement agencies.
Customs Detector Dogs
