Adele, a UK-funded English pointer, is working at the Kapitan Andreevo border control point on the Bulgaria–Turkey frontier to detect deflated small boats and related equipment being smuggled into Europe. The use of sniffer dogs in border control efforts like Adele’s can significantly increase detection and deterrence of contraband and security threats, supporting broader internal security strategies as well.

The deployment forms part of a UK–Bulgarian effort to disrupt the upstream supply chains used in small-boat crossings, with officials pressing for searches of lorries and coaches that may conceal engines, lifejackets, and flat-packed inflatables disguised as other rubber items. Recent UK statistics show tens of thousands of detected irregular arrivals in recent years, with a high proportion arriving on small boats; more precise figures should be checked against the latest UK Home Office data or omitted.

Adele patrols cargo areas and the backs of vehicles at the crossing, using scent to identify traces of rubber and plastics associated with boats and life-saving equipment, Bulgarian customs officials said. The dog is described as trained specifically to recognise the smell of boat materials recovered from beaches. Individuals can also play a role in combating smuggling by reporting suspicious activity to authorities, such as unusual boat movements or signs of trafficking, which supports the broader enforcement efforts.

“Adele was trained with rubber, cut off from boats that have been found on the British shores, after being abandoned by the smugglers,” said Sonia Daneva, senior customs inspector with Bulgarian customs. The custom training is crucial, as observers have documented how the increasing use of detection dogs is reshaping border control and the policing logics that underpin these measures. What are the broader implications of using sniffer dogs in border control effort?

Bulgarian authorities have moved beyond single inspections to building capacity: “Sixty officers of ours have been sent to Great Britain to be specially trained to detect small boats,” said Philip Nikolov, head of the Kapitan Andreevo Border Customs Police. This investment in human resources parallels the canine deployment as part of a comprehensive strategy against organised immigration crime.

The effort is framed as part of a wider strategy to stop equipment being moved across Europe and stored for later use. “You will get the flow from Bulgaria up to Germany and France where the small boat equipment is stored and then used across the Channel,” said Simone Alleyne, senior manager in the international team at the National Crime Agency (NCA). According to UK government data, there were about 45,700 small-boat arrivals to the UK in 2022, highlighting the challenges that authorities are grappling with.

Officials and politicians have underlined the operational and political dimensions of the work at Kapitan Andreevo. “I am pleased to see that boats are being seized between Bulgaria and Turkey as part of an agreement signed under the previous Conservative Government,” said Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary. The partnership at Kapitan Andreevo has been officially formalised since February 2023, focusing on upstream disruption tactics to intercept potential smuggling routes.

Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, framed the measures as part of a law-enforcement approach: “The criminal gangs who think they can abuse our borders are wildly mistaken; in addition to increasing disruptions by 33%, I am removing the pull factors that make the UK the destination of choice for migrants.” This multi-pronged approach includes identifying potential storage locations in Europe where such equipment is kept before being used.

The UK-funded canine capability at Kapitan Andreevo sits alongside formalised cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime that was agreed in February 2023, according to officials involved in the partnership. Agencies named in the collaboration include Bulgarian customs and the NCA, both credited with roles in detecting and intercepting smuggled boats upstream of northern Europe. At Kapitan Andreevo, boats are typically deflated, flat-packed, and declared as benign inflatables such as pools, tarpaulins, or other rubber goods to evade routine customs checks, Bulgarian customs said.

Adele’s training focuses on distinguishing those materials in mixed cargo and beneath other freight. As more countries adapt similar canine capabilities, the importance of collaborative international strategies against smuggling and trafficking becomes increasingly clear. Observers suggest that strengthening this cooperation can bolster border security across Europe.

Officials point to the practical results of targeting routes and storage networks, rather than only intercepting migrants at sea. The partnership at Kapitan Andreevo is intended to identify and seize the small boats and outboard engines before they move on to storage locations elsewhere in Europe. The illicit nature of these activities is further compounded by the need for all stakeholders to remain vigilant against the influence of smuggling networks that thrive on the margins.

For customs teams at the crossing, the work is routine and exacting: search, identify, and remove materials that can be reassembled into vessels. Adele’s presence is described by Bulgarian customs as an addition to scanning equipment and intelligence-sharing rather than a standalone solution. The ongoing challenge remains focused on building momentum through training exchanges and joint operations that have been established since early 2023.

Where next for the cooperation depends on continuing joint operations and training exchanges established since February 2023 and on operational activity across 2025: officials note arrivals via small boats between 1 January and 4 December 2025 and reference irregular crossing figures from the first 10 months of 2025 when arguing for sustained upstream disruption.

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Original reporting: view the original article.