Cynologists of Smolensk customs summarized the results of their activities in 2023 – they detected more than 350 g of controlled substances and 976 cigarette cartons
Smolensk customs officers in 2023 involved service dogs and cynologists in 354 operational-search activities and 76 times in the implementation of customs control. A total of 7,762 pieces of luggage, 2,641 international mail items, 2,270 cars and 567 trucks, 2,265 pieces of cargo and 347 buses were inspected
Cynologists of Smolensk customs and their assistants were involved in joint activities 12 times, including in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Smolensk region, as well as the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. At the same time 20 units of cargo and 11 units of passenger transport, 35 units of luggage, 16 premises and 6 areas, as well as 4 railroad cars were inspected
“At present, Smolensk customs has seven cynological units with trained service dogs, they stand in defense of the economic interests of the Russian Federation, practicing service tasks on the territory of Smolensk and Tver regions. We have German Shepherds and Labradors, as well as Cocker Spaniels. All of them are trained to search for narcotic drugs,” said Roman Nikiforenkov, head of the cynology department of Smolensk customs
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The Smolensk customs canine unit was created in 2008. Its main task is to prevent and suppress smuggling of narcotic, potent and psychotropic substances, objects of flora and fauna and other goods with individual odor through the use of specially trained service dogs