Team takes a sniff out of crime Brian, a military working dog with the 28th Security Forces Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., maneuvers over one of the obstacles at Ellsworth's kennels. Click on image for higher-resolution copy. Brian, a military working dog for the 28th Security Forces Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Clifford Rubink had the opportunity to put their training to a test near El Paso, Texas. Rubink said the team of two searched 50 to 75 vehicles a day.
Some vehicles are more likely to be carrying drugs than others.
For instance, a minivan is a common load vehicle because of the large quarter panels, and it's fairly easy to install a false floor and hide the drugs under it. Inspectors would also refer vehicles to the area if the drivers were nervous or their stories didn't make sense. Some load drivers would purposely avoid eye contact with a dog handler, and some would stare straight ahead. Rubink said the temporary duty to El Paso taught both him and Brian valuable lessons. I gained knowledge on how drug traffickers conceal their narcotics and the extremes they go through to fool the K-9 teams.