STERLING, Va., — Three alerts by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) narcotics detector dogs in about one week led to zero tolerance penalties assessed to international travelers at Washington Dulles International Airport recently.
CBP K9 Ginna, a German shepherd, alerted to baggage of a traveler who arrived on a flight from Lisbon, Spain August 19. During an examination, CBP officers discovered a glass vial with a substance that tested positive for THC hash oil.
CBP K-9 Ferro, a Belgian malinois, alerted to the baggage of a traveler who arrived on a flight from Frankfurt, Germany August 16. During an examination, CBP officers discovered a drug pipe and two small rocks. The rocks tested positive for hashish. K9 Ferro also alerted to a traveler’s baggage on August 11, in which CBP officers discovered a pipe and a canister containing 14 grams of a yellow waxy substance that tested positive for THC. That traveler arrived from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Each traveler was assessed a $500 zero tolerance penalty and release to continue their travel.
“One of Customs and Border Protection’s primary missions is to keep illicit drugs out of the United States, and CBP officers and their K9 partners are essential components of our drug interdiction efforts,” said Casey Owen Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “This seizure is a direct reflection of CBP’s vigilance and continued commitment to keeping our families and our communities safe.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations
Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers into the U.S. In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.
CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.
Travelers are encouraged to visit CBP’s Travel website at CBP Travel Information to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S.
CBP employs canines of a wide variety of disciplines, including narcotics, human, currency, firearms, search and rescue, tracking, special response, and agriculture. Read more about CBP’s Canine Program.
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