As artificial intelligence and advanced scanning systems transform border controls, customs services still rely on one of their oldest detection tools: trained dogs. AI can analyse images and data, identify patterns and help customs officers decide which shipments or containers warrant closer inspection. But customs officials, dog handlers, and other specialists from more than 50 countries gathered at the World Customs Organisation's 7th Global Canine Forum in Tashkent argued that this does not remove the need for dogs trained to detect scents.
Antonio Lo Parco, head of the WCO's Regional Office for Capacity Building for Europe, told Euronews that dogs possess detection abilities “that AI cannot substitute”. Information from canine detection can also feed into AI systems, he added, helping customs authorities identify patterns and emerging trends. Oliver Stolper, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's regional representative for Central Asia, also sees the two tools as complementary.
AI can help customs services identify containers that require additional scrutiny and analyse images for signs of illicit cargo. The role of detection dogs is also evolving as illicit drug markets change. Jonibek Yusupov, an officer at Uzbekistan's Agency for the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Firearms, said authorities had recorded a significant rise in synthetic drugs since the pandemic.
Canine units are now training dogs specifically to recognise the scents associated with synthetic narcotic substances. Established in 1996, it trains canine teams for customs and other law-enforcement agencies. It was granted WCO Regional Canine Centre status in 2008.
Its dogs are trained for tasks including the detection of narcotics, psychotropic substances, weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as search-and-rescue and tracking operations. At around four months old, dogs bred at the centre begin working with instructors and are assessed for characteristics including their response to noise, unfamiliar environments and heights. The centre primarily works with German and Belgian Shepherds, Russian Spaniels and Labradors.
Dogs that pass the selection process are gradually introduced to environments they may encounter during operations, including vehicles and railway carriages. Specialised training begins around eight months of the dog's age and normally lasts six to seven months. Training is adapted to each dog's temperament.
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