Behind the scenes: A day in the life of Australian Border Force detection dogs at Adelaide Airport

Learning the scents of illegal substances like meth, cocaine and cannabis isn’t in most job descriptions, but for some highly trained four-legged officers, it’s all in a day’s work.

Learning the scents of illegal substances like meth, cocaine and heroin isn’t in most job descriptions, but for some highly trained four-legged officers, it’s all in a day’s work.

Every day, specially-trained detection dogs monitor South Australia’s busiest transport hubs like airports and sea ports, where they are essential to protecting the community from those who seek to corrupt it.

For Australian Border Force officers Chad and Jacqui, “every day feels like the weekend” when they’re on the job with their best mates.

Specially trained in all aspects of narcotic detection, labradors Caris and Lynch are two of the ABF’s biggest assets when it comes to protecting South Australians from incoming illegal substances.

Over the last year, detection dogs have helped ABF officers in 38,000 tasks, intercepting over 1200 illegal goods, but it all comes down to their education.

Australian Border Force Detector dogs at work in Adelaide Airport. Detector dog handlers Jacqui with Lynch (golden) and Chad with Caris (black) Picture: Keryn Stevens

ABF officer Jacqui has been training with 15-month-old Lynch and said she was looking forward to graduating alongside him from their detection dog education soon.

“It’s really great because once we’ve graduated, we’ll hopefully have a long career together. I can’t wait for that,” she said.

There are different dogs around the state trained to locate and identify illicit items – including firearms, explosives, tobacco, narcotics and cash – but it’s up to dogs like Caris and Lynch to frequently monitor luggage from international flights.

While on patrol in the airport, each dog is given a command to jump onto the luggage belt to sniff for drugs, which they are introduced to as puppies.

When they identify a scent, they sit to indicate they’ve detected something illegal.

Detector dog handler Jacqui with Lynch. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Detector dog handler Chad with Caris. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“You’re basically teaching them to use their natural abilities and instincts and we’re just honing that in to certain skills. When they’re learning to search for narcotics, we reward them for that and train that into them,” ABF Officer Chad said.

“We do use real drugs in training, but the dogs can’t get to them. It’s just the odour coming through.

Jacqui says she’ll definitely be bringing Lynch home when he retires. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“Over time, once they get older and wiser, they search closer to the point. We’re able to do mass screenings of bags with a pretty effective tool – their noses. They are still dogs though, so we need to make it enjoyable for them.”

Once the dogs reach retirement age – usually around six or seven – Officer Jacqui said their human partners got first dibs on giving them a forever home.

“When Lynch retires, I’ll definitely be bringing him home,” she said. “He’s my work partner and we’re a team.

“I think that’s a really special part. We rely on the community a lot for help with fostering them as puppies too. Their training starts at three days old so it’s such a big part, because like Lynch here, he has to go in a vessel, in the airport, search freights. It’s extensive what we do and that’s a lot for a dog.

“Labradors are chosen for this job for a reason – they’ve got a high drive, but also because the community loves them. They’re not an intimidating breed.

“Work doesn’t feel like work when it’s with him. Every day is like the weekend, and we’re just playing hide and seek.”

Originally published as Behind the scenes: A day in the life of Australian Border Force detection dogs at Adelaide Airport