[Movie] Instantly detecting illegal drugs with his nose, a new drug sniffing dog debuts at Yokohama Customs/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1310030019/

October 3, 2013

"Pepper" demonstrates his ability to instantly sniff out and react to illegal drugs=Yokohama Customs

A new ally has joined the narcotic detection dogs of Yokohama Customs: Pepper, a 19 month old male Labrador retriever. Debuting in September, at both Yokohama Customs' Kawasaki Overseas Mail Sub-Branch and the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, he proudly uses his nose to defend against the inflow of illegal drugs into Japan.

[Movies]

On the 3rd, a public demonstration was held. Instantly detecting the smell of illegal drugs hidden in a travel suitcase, he alerted his handler with a "Sit" pose.

This was the first time Pepper was deployed on the job to the Yokohama Area. Acting as a 'Luggage Search and Correspondence Dog,' he sniffed around the luggage of arriving passengers. He was named pepper with the wish: "That his nose would instantly detect illegal drugs as if they smelled of pepper."

October is the month when control over illegal narcotics and handguns is strengthened. Working as Pepper's handler, customs official Kubo Mao (age 32) said: "He's used to people and the location. Now work is like fun to him, just what we expected."

Original text:

【動画】不正薬物を瞬時嗅ぎ分け、横浜税関で新探知犬デビュー／神奈川

2013年10月3日

ペッパー号が不正薬物の臭いに瞬時に反応したデモンストレーション＝横浜税関

横浜税関の麻薬探知犬に、新しい仲間が加わった。ラブラドルレトリバーの「ペッパー号」（雄、１歳７カ月）。９月にデビュー、同税関川崎外郵出張所や横浜港大さん橋国際客船ターミナルなどで不正薬物の国内への流入を自慢の鼻で防いでいる。

【動画】

３日に公開されたデモンストレーションでは、旅行かばんに隠されていた不正薬物の臭いを瞬時に嗅ぎ分け、「お座り」のポーズで通報した。

ペッパー号は、到着した乗客の荷物などを嗅ぎ回る「旅具検査対応犬」で、横浜地区に配備されるのは今回が初めて。名前には「ピリリと瞬時に不正薬物を嗅ぎ分けられるように」との願いが込められている。

１０月は不正薬物や拳銃の取り締まり強化月間。ハンドラーを務める税関職員の久保真生さん（３２）は「人や場所に慣れてきて、今では楽しそうに仕事をしている。期待できますよ」と話していた。