K-9 units are also effective at detecting what substance?

K-9 units are specifically trained to recognize and detect certain substances using their advanced sense of smell. One of their primary roles in law enforcement is to identify illegal drugs. The distinct scents associated with various narcotics can be extremely subtle; however, a dog’s sense of smell is thousands of times more sensitive than that of a human, which allows them to detect even trace amounts of these substances.

K-9 units often undergo rigorous training to differentiate between various types of drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. This ability makes them valuable tools for drug enforcement operations, searches, and investigations. In contrast, while K-9s are also employed to detect explosives and certain other items, their specific training for narcotics detection is well-established in law enforcement practices, highlighting their effectiveness in identifying illegal drugs.