Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport is the only passenger and cargo airport in Lebanon. As a result, it is always crowded with people eager to visit this Middle Eastern country.

Thousands of people pass through the airport terminals daily, and a vast amount of cargo and various baggage are transported to all corners of the globe. With such high passenger and cargo traffic, security is of paramount importance.

For this reason, numerous police officers monitor security and order. However, there are also other, less noticeable and less known law enforcement officers—search dogs that have received specialized training. These dogs help detect suspicious packages or baggage containing prohibited items, such as narcotics, explosives, or even large sums of money.

These dogs are trained to pick up specific scents and «inform» their handlers without barking or causing a disturbance. When they detect something, they direct their nose and gaze at the suspicious object, remaining still. The handler, observing the dog’s behavior, notices the change and organizes a check of the found baggage. It’s a simple yet time-tested system that works almost flawlessly.

A Strange Find

When one such dog was walking through the airport building, no one paid any attention to it, understanding that the dog was on duty. Although many people might have wanted to pet and cuddle the friendly animal, this was strictly prohibited to avoid distracting both the dog and the police. Passersby could only smile at the handler accompanying the dog.

Suddenly, in the cargo terminal, the dog fixed its nose on one of the boxes passing through the terminal. The label showed the destination as Kazakhstan. The package had arrived a few days earlier and was awaiting its next leg of the journey.

The dog froze, silently focusing on the box. The officer had no doubt—there was clearly something illegal inside.