New recruits: Two new quarantine detector dogs will be deployed for field duty at border checkpoints from December 7.

Two new dogs have joined the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department's Quarantine Detector Dog Team to strengthen its efforts to combat the smuggling of live animals and animal products.

The two-year-and-six-month-old local beagle-cross and the two-year-old labrador from Australia graduated today after completing basic and operational training. They will be deployed for field duty at different border control points from December 7.

The dogs will reinforce the existing team of three quarantine detector dogs. They will screen travellers and detect the scent of live mammals, birds, reptiles and animal products. They will identify and sit beside passengers suspected of carrying prohibited items, including endangered species, animal meat and other animal products into Hong Kong.

Quarantine detector dogs have screened more than 140,000 travellers in the last 12 months at border crossings, leading to 102 seizures.