Sniffer dogs put to test at public awareness event

At a public awareness event over the weekend with Guangzhou Customs, these Labradors prove that they are indispensable to customs officials on the lookout for drugs.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is just two days away. To raise public awareness on the government's efforts in fighting drug trafficking, Guangzhou Customs held an open day to demonstrate anti-drug efforts...with the help of one of man's closest friends.

At a public awareness event over the weekend with Guangzhou Customs, these Labradors prove that they are indispensable to customs officials on the lookout for drugs.

With hundreds of citizens watching, this dog is first put to the task of scouring those suitcases.

Within a minute, it locks in on this bag of heroine.

Then a group of kids are brought in...and the dog is given an order to locate for anything suspicious on them.

After it singles out this boy, a bag of marijuana is found inside the boy's bag.

According to Guangzhou Customs officers, its team of sniffer dogs have busted 170 drug smuggling cases since 2009.

Part of the event is aimed at educating people on drug trafficking. This is a handbag where methamphetamine is stacked inside an inner pocket...And in a more intricate case, drugs are weaved inside this carpet.

Guangdong province, located on China's southern coast and right by Hong Kong SAR, has been a drug smuggling battleground for authorities. Last year, over 40 percent of all drug trafficking cases in the Chinese mainland occurred in the province. Officers say smugglers are increasingly getting more creative with their methods.

"Smugglers used to have individuals travel with drugs on them. After 2006, we're seeing more drugs transported via express mail services. Last year, over 70% of trafficking cases we busted used mail services," Cui Qianchao from Guangzhou Customs said.

According to customs officers, it costs a year and a half and at least 30,000 US dollars to train a sniffer dog. Dogs are 10 times more efficient compared to men and machines in identifying drugs hidden inside mail packages. Specially trained dogs that sniff for ivory, tobacco and even cash will also soon join the customs force.

Additionally, 500 kilos of heroine and methaphetamine confiscated in recent years were burned and destroyed at the event as part of the awareness program.