New TSA Canine Teams to Enhance Air Cargo Security at Orlando International Airport

Teams deployed today in Visible Intermodal Protection and Response Operation at LYNX

ORLANDO, Fla., June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced two new TSA canine teams to enhance explosives detection capabilities at Orlando International Airport (MCO) air cargo facilities. Orlando is the second city in Florida after Miami in which these TSA proprietary teams are deployed.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090401/TSALOGO)

The Orlando teams completed a rigorous 10-week training course at Lackland AFB, San Antonio. The teams have been certified in their local environment and are now fully operational. These teams consist of one canine and a TSA Transportation Security Inspector Canine Handler and will primarily search cargo bound for passenger-carrying aircraft.

“Canine teams are one of the quickest, most efficient means of detecting explosives,” said John Daly, Orlando Federal Security Director. “The two new TSA teams provide flexibility in searching air cargo and the ability to surge resources in other modes of transportation such as seen today at LYNX during our VIPR – Visible Intermodal Protection and Response – operation.”

TSA canine handlers are non-law enforcement employees and complement the more than 600 TSA-certified state, local and federal law enforcement teams currently deployed nationwide to more than 90 airports and mass transit systems.

The new teams will enhance explosives detection in the air cargo environment and allow TSA to deploy them anywhere in the transportation system in minutes when there is a heightened threat.

Additional TSA teams will be deployed to airports with the greatest volume of cargo on passenger-carrying aircraft.

For more information about the TSA canine program visit the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov.

    TSA Public Affairs:  Sari Koshetz
    (305) 432-0076

SOURCE Transportation Security Administration