(a) whether the customs department is reportedly facing shortage of
sniffer dogs used by them to detect drugs and counterfeit currencies;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any committee has been constituted to look into the matter;
(d) if so, the details thereof and recommendations made by the said committee, if any; and
(e) the details of the measure taken by the Government to ensure availability of requisite
number of sniffer dogs to the customs department?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S.PALANIMANICKAM)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) There are only eleven (11) sniffer dogs presently with Customs Department, which are deployed
to detect drugs, etc., at I.G.I. Airport, New Delhi and C.S.I. Airport, Mumbai and Amritsar Airport.
(c) Yes, sir.
(d) The details of recommendations made by the said committee is enclosed as `Annexure`.
(e) The sniffer dog squads available with the department are called in for investigations as and when required
at the international border posts. Field formations are also utilizing the services of the sniffer dogs
available with state police and other government enforcement agencies as and when required.
LOK SABHA ADMITTED AS UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3901 FOR ANSWER ON
16-12-2011 REGARDING SNIFFER DOGS WITH CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.
ANNEXURE
The major recommendations of a committee on the subject headed by a Chief Commissioner
of Customs and including representatives of Police and BSF are as follows:-
(a) A separate Special Canine Detection Establishment with sufficient
manpower should be set up in Directorate of Logistics under
Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).
(b) Proposed to deploy 79 sniffer dogs and 172 personnel in different grades.
(c) Both fixed and mobile kennels to be used.
(d) Dog handlers to be recruited through direct recruitment, with
the provision in the Recruitment Rules to include Ex-servicemen.