China has for the first time started using dogs to sniff for drugs on airplanes in Beijing.

The dogs were put to work at Terminal 3 of Beijing's Capital International Airport.

A golden Labrador retriever is sniffing for drugs on a airplane in Beijing, January 13, 2009. [Photo: Legal Daily]

Wearing uniforms and leather shoes, two golden Labrador retrievers, Weite and Haige, boarded a plane from the United Arab Emirates Monday to sniff every corner where passengers might have passed.

Traffickers hiding drugs within their packages or bodies could leave a distinct smell on their seats that is detectable up to two hours. The dogs have the ability to detect the the smell with 100 percent accuracy, said Yan Haiqun, vice head of Beijing Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau.

"Labrador retrievers are meek and friendly to people. Their noses are enormously accurate," he said.

Once the dogs detect a suspicious scent left on airplane seats, officials can check the suspect before he or she leaves the airport. It helps police get information about the suspect's nationality, name and age quickly, he said.

Dogs must be washed before boarding so as to keep the plane clean. The check starts after all the passengers get off and usually lasts only 10 minutes. Passengers can leave the airport without having to wait for the drug-check result, Yan said.

"I have not heard any other countries have used drug-sniffing dogs on plane," he said.

The Beijing Customs has trained 15 sniffing dogs since 1996 to patrol airports, railway stations and post offices. The dogs have helped seize 31 kilograms of drugs.

China used more than 200 explosive-sniffing dogs during the Beijing Olympics to help guard security. The dogs were also trained for anti-drug, rescue missions in emergencies such as fires, and anti-terrorist operations.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2009)