NCJ Number
44032
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Volume: 32 Issue: 308 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 151-155
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE ADVANTAGES OF USING DOGS TO DETECT DRUGS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF NARCOTICS CASES ARE POINTED OUT, AND GUIDELINES FOR USING DOGS IN DRUG SEARCHES ARE OFFERED BY A MEMBER OF THE WEST GERMAN CUSTOMS SURVEILLANCE SECTION.
Abstract
THE DOG'S OLFACTORY POWERS ARE SUCH THAT IT CAN ACT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SEVERAL MEN IN DETECTING HIDDEN NARCOTICS. NARCOTICS SEARCHES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: RESIDENTIAL PREMISES; ATTIC; CELLAR; GARDEN; AND AUTOMOBILE. ANYTHING LIKELY TO DISTURB THE DOG'S SENSE OF SMELL, SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD PETS, SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SEARCH SCENE BEFORE THE DOG IS BROUGHT IN. WINDOWS SHOULD BE CLOSED TO ELIMINATE DRAFTS THAT MIGHT DISSIPATE THE SCENT OF A SMALL DRUG QUANTITY. SPECIAL CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN SEARCHING ATTICS, CELLARS, FIREPLACES, AND CHIMNEYS. ONLY THE DOG AND ITS HANDLER SHOULD BE PRESENT IN THE SEARCH AREA. WHEN SEARCHING AN AUTOMOBILE, THE HANDLER SHOULD ASSIST THE DOG IN AN INTELLIGENT MANNER. FOR INSTANCE, THE HANDLER SHOULD CHECK LIGHTING AND HEATING SYSTEMS AND CAR RADIOS. IF ANY PART IS NOT IN WORKING ORDER, IT MAY BE A HIDING PLACE FOR DRUGS. GENERALLY, NONE OF THE SUBSTANCES USED TO CONFUSE THE DOGS BY CAMOUFLAGING SMELLS ARE EFFECTIVE. USUALLY THE CAMOUFLAGING SUBSTANCES ACTUALLY ATTRACT THE DOG'S ATTENTION. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, LIMITS TO WHAT THE DOGS CAN DO. INVESTIGATORS THEMSELVES SHOULD CHECK FOR CONTAINERS HANGING OUTSIDE WINDOWS OR IN TOILET TANKS. ALTHOUGH DOGS RARELY FAIL TO DETECT HASHISH, THEY HAVE MORE TROUBLE DETECTING HEROIN, WHICH IS USUALLY SMUGGLED IN SMALL QUANTITIES. DOGS CANNOT DETECT HEROIN HIDING PLACES LOCATED HIGH OFF THE GROUND.