MURPHY UNCOVERS DRUG SMUGGLER AT NORTH PORTAL

Thanks to the work of a drug detection dog, Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency officers were able to apprehend a man carrying a significant
quantity of illegal drugs into Canada.

The man, a Canadian returning to Canada from the United States, was stopped
for a regular customs check at the North Portal customs office on January 9.

The detector dog Murphy was available at the port at the time and he
alerted customs inspectors to the presence of drugs on the traveller. A
search of the man and his vehicle resulted in the discovery of 135 grams of
marijuana and five grams of hash oil. The drugs have a street value of just
under $3,000.

Jason Michael Brown, 31, of Gananoque was arrested and turned over to the
Estevan detachment of the RCMP and was charged under the Controlled Drugs
and Substances Act and fined $500.

In addition to the fine, civil penalties were assessed against Brown for
the return of his vehicle.

Jerry Shoemaker, manager of communications for the Saskatoon office of
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, said the detector dog service plays an
important role in the interdiction of narcotics and firearms entering the
country and assists customs officials in fulfilling their commitment to
strengthen the success and efficiency of the anti-smuggling initiative.

In 2001 detector dog teams were responsible for 732 drug and weapon
seizures, representing a street value of over $155 million.

The detector dog service was introduced to the Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency processes in 1978. Dog teams are strategically located in six
regions across Canada to serve both travellers and commercial shippers.

The detector dogs are classified as specialty dogs trained specifically to
detect contraband drugs and firearms. Since 1993 the dogs have been trained
to be passive inspectors and are especially effective in the inspection of
travellers body packs and hand carried items that are used to smuggle drugs
or firearms. The passive approach to detection means that the dogs are
trained to sit calmly beside the items containing the drugs or firearms
rather than bark, dig or move around the items. This allows them to
circulate among travellers more effectively.

There are 40 detector dog teams across the country.