First Canine Security Company Certified for Air Cargo Security

CSK9 is the first commercial security company to successfully certify an Explosive Detection Canine Team under the TSA Certified Cargo Security Program - Canine Initiative.

• By Sydny Shepard
• Nov 07, 2018

The Transportation Security Agency has certified the first canine security company for air cargo security screening. Cargo Screening K9 Alliance, LLC (CSK9) has become the first commercial company to successfully certify an Explosive Detection Canine Team under the TSA Certified Cargo Security Program — Canine Initiative. 

On October 26th, CSK9 was certified to TSA standards effective November 1, 2018. According to a press release, CSkK9 immediately responded and requested TSA approved evaluator support from Spectrum Canine Solutions to begin the EDCT certifications on opening day. 

The company participated in a grueling certification process, which allowed Ashley Beard and her Vapor Wake K9, Colt, to become the first dog team to certify under the program. Ashely has been holding and training detection canines for over 10 years.

“I am so proud of our training and support staff, who with very short notice, made a herculean effort to ready the search areas, containers, and boxes to meet the testing layout specifications," Paul Hammond, CSK9’s President, said. "Our experienced handlers and well-trained canines were spot on, as they accurately detected CCSF-K9 explosive odors hidden within complex cargo configurations. It truly is an honor to be part of this TSA milestone, and witness the first on many to come 3PK9-C certified teams.”

Another 12 EDCTs are already in training and scheduled to undergo 3PK9-C certification in the coming weeks. These teams will begin screening operations at their designated worksites soon after CSK9 becomes an approved Certified Cargo Screening Facility – Canine (CCSF-K9) regulated entity.