Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to introduce electronic sniffer system

Customs to test-run device that detects contraband drugs based on smell

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The Finnish Customs is to start testing a machine at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport that will detect illegal drugs and strong medicine based on smell. The electronic drug sniffer system will be introduced at the airport in March and the trial period will last for a year.
      The drug-sniffing device will detect the tiniest of amounts of drugs and medicine from the surface of luggage and cargo packages.
     
The device is not able to examine the inside of packages, but if drugs have been placed in a package or a suitcase, more than likely the handler’s fingers will also have left traces of the substance on the surface of the consignment.
      The “electronic sniffer dog” has been programmed to look for the most common illegal drugs and strong prescription drugs, such as Subutex.
      If the device detects traces of drugs, a customs official can open the piece of luggage for closer inspection.
     
Inspecting every single item with the machine is too laborious. The Customs plans to concentrate on consignments that come for example from North Africa and South America.
      “Our primary interest is in air cargo, through which larger quantities of illegal substances may enter into the country”, says customs senior inspector Lasse Ryyttäri.
      The aim is to clamp down on organised drug trafficking.
      According to Ryyttäri the sniffing device is just one tool among many, and it cannot replace for example the sniffer dogs used by the Customs.
      The sniffer devices have not been in regular use before at Finnish points of entry, but with the advancement of technology they have gradually become more common elsewhere in the world. One reason for the use of this type of new technology becoming more common is the need for tighter border inspections through fears of terrorism.
     
The apparatus acquired by the Customs was originally designed to look for traces of explosives as well.
      In Finland, however, the device will not be used to search for bombs among the luggage.
      On completion of the one-year test run the Customs will assess the usefulness of the device.
      Even if the device was found beneficial, Ryyttäri does not believe Finland would need more than five such devices.
      “It sounds very good, but let us see how it will benefit us in practice”, Ryyttäri says.
     
One restraining factor is the price.
      The electronic sniffer dog comes with a price tag of EUR 50,000, and its running costs are not cheap, either.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  X-ray scanning of passengers based on ethnic criteria would be illegal (19.1.2010)
  Finavia considers introduction of profiling of passengers (18.1.2010)
  Majority of air passengers agree to fluoroscopic scanning at Helsinki-Vantaa security check (29.9.2008)

See also:
  A story from 2001 about a drug-sniffer of a different kind - Alma gets support for her hind leg (6.3.2001)

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