Customs dogs, despite advancements in artificial intelligence and advanced scanning systems, are still considered one of the key tools in border control. At the seventh Global Customs Dogs Symposium held in Tashkent, experts from over 50 countries emphasized the importance of continuing to use trained dogs for scent detection.
Complementing Artificial Intelligence with Customs Dogs
Antonio Lo Parco, head of the World Customs Organization's regional office for capacity building in Europe, stated that dogs possess detection abilities that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. The information obtained from dog detections can assist AI systems in identifying new patterns and trends. Oliver Stollper, regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Central Asia, also regarded the use of these two tools as complementary, adding: "Dogs cannot be replaced. Customs organizations still depend on them, and this dependence has good reasons."
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Changes in the Drug Market and Dog Training
Experts noted that the role of detection dogs is evolving as the illegal drug market changes. Janibek Yusupov, an officer from Uzbekistan's Drug Control and Weapons Administration, announced that there has been a significant increase in the use of synthetic drugs since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Customs dog units are now training dogs to detect scents associated with synthetic drugs.
Yusupov said: "If we only rely on artificial intelligence or technology, we can only analyze images. But drugs have a smell." The National Dog Center of Uzbekistan has been training dogs and trainers since 1996 and has successfully trained 220 trainers from various countries. This center was recognized as a regional customs dog center in 2008.
Finally, at the symposium, participants had the opportunity to learn about the World Customs Organization's criteria for dog training centers and discussed how to implement these criteria in their countries. Elpida Kasapi from the Greek customs service noted that the information gained at this symposium will help them improve their methods in Greece.
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