Latest News and Updates

A huge haul of illegal cigarette worth more than £25,000 has been seized from businesses in the town of Bletchley, all thanks to a specialist search dog called Griff. 

A joint operation into “multiple businesses” was launched by Milton Keynes City Council Trading Standards, the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) and Thames Valley Police.

One of the most sophisticated illegal tobacco concealments to be found in the North East was discovered by Cooper, a highly trained detection dog working for Wales based company B.W.Y Canine Ltd. Trading standards officers say the brick-built working barbie, which could be lifted up and down by remotely operated hydraulics, concealed a wooden chest full of cigarettes. It was one of the most sophisticated contraptions for hiding tobacco they had ever found.

My reason for posting this video and write up is because I fear handlers are relying on a TFR (trained final response) from their detection dog, influenced by trainers who do only train, trainers who have never been under pressure on a live operation to find the drugs, tobacco, cash, or firearms. Of course, it depends on what the handler is doing with their detection dog, and some might argue that my post it not relevant, especially to people who only do scent work or detection activities for fun.

Read the full blog here, by Stu Phillips, a multi award-winning detection dog trainer, handler and instructor.

Are detection dogs being trained correctly for their role and do you know the operational standards for the job you are training your dog for.

A Detection Dog Blog by Stu Phillips

Over 248,520 illegal cigarettes and 84.35Kgs of tobacco have been seized in Kent thanks to specialist detection dogs from Wales based B.W.Y Canine Ltd. A team of five dogs supported the large multi-agency operation, code named Operation Puggle, during two days of action in Gravesened, Kent.

Tobacco detection dogs Bran, Yoyo, Cooper and Griff together with bank note detection dog Maggie made a huge impact on the sale and distribution of illegal tobacco and cigarettes. The dog are handled by Stuart Phillips who has an enviable reputation as a multi-award winning detection dog trainer in the UK. 

An Eastbourne illegal tobacco seller has been given a custodial sentence after being caught hiding illegal tobacco by specialist detection dog Yoyo.

Nezar Shaban Hadi was convicted at Hove Crown Court following an investigation into his store, Little Convenience, by a specialist tobacco search dog and officers from East Sussex Trading Standards Service. 

A question I often get asked, "can a detection dog screen shipping containers effectively without having to use air sampling equipment" ?

My answer is without a doubt, yes, detection dogs from my experience are the best way to screen shipping containers and I don't believe an air sampling kit is needed.