MOSCOW. Jan 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Sniffer dogs of the Russian Interior Ministry Force helped detain about 200 trespassers of restricted areas in 2003, Lieutenant General Vladimir Ryabinov, chief of the engineer troops and engineer department of the Interior Ministry Force HQ, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Dog specialists on patrol and guard duty detained about 200 trespassers of restricted areas of protected facilities and over 19,000 public order violators, including 73 suspected criminals, in 2003," Ryabinov said.
Sniffer dogs play an extremely important part in engineer reconnaissance missions and search for explosive devices, he stressed. "Sniffer dogs helped detect over 30 engineer ammo pieces, 45kg of explosives, over 3,000 other explosive devices, and several ammo caches during engineer reconnaissance and special operations," he said.
Ryabinov stressed that advanced mine-planting activity of rebels in Chechnya has made it necessary to update the training of dog specialists. The training is currently handled by the Sniffer dog service personnel training center of the Interior Ministry Force's Urals district. Two teams of specialists have graduated from the center this year, he said.
According to Ryabinov, "Sniffer dogs are involved in the protection of vital state facilities, military compounds and military compounds."