Flash, who was trained to detect various products that could be potential threats to U.S. agriculture, alerted a CBP officer to luggage arriving from Nigeria.
The CBP specialist discovered items such as infested beans, cow skin, herbs, soup mix, weeds, wood, and yams in the luggage.
Flash also found fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat products on his first day of duty. All of the prohibited items could carry pests or diseases and harm the country’s agriculture or natural resources, CBP says.
The beagle’s journey to CBP duty began when he was rescued from an animal shelter.
“Rescued and trained at the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia, Flash’s journey from the Humane Society in Blue Ridge, Georgia, to duty at ATL airport is a testament to the agency’s dedication to animal welfare and our Homeland Security mission,” CBP spokesman Rob Brisley told The Epoch Times via email.
“CBP’s Beagle Brigade, with its highly trained canine handlers, continues to be a frontline defense against potential agricultural threats,” Mr. Brisley said.
Flash completed 10 weeks of training before his first day of work for CBP at the Atlanta airport.
According to Mr. Brisley, the Beagle Brigade now consists of over 180 teams across the country, providing screening at border crossings, preclearance locations, air passenger and cruise terminals, cargo warehouses, and mail facilities that process international commodities.
On a typical day, agricultural specialists at CBP seize nearly 2,700 prohibited plants, meat, animal byproducts, and soil, in addition to 240 insects nationally.
Aside from the agricultural canines, the CBP also has 1,500 canine teams dedicated to terrorist detection and apprehension.
The canines and their handlers detect and apprehend persons attempting to enter the country to organize, incite, and carry out acts of terrorism.
They are also able to detect controlled substances and other contraband.
