Ten dogs have been honored with badges from the Customs and Border Protection Canine Enforcement Training Center for successfully completing 13-week special program.

The dogs now will be used to sniff out bombs, drugs and people trying to sneak into the country.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff presented the badges. The training center is situated Front Royal, almost 70 miles west of Washington.

"Dogs are a vital security resource," said Chertoff. "When it comes to protecting the homeland, our canine teams have proven time and time again they have a tremendous intrinsic value."

Chertoff has stressed the fact that dogs are capable of detecting explosives, narcotics and even people being smuggled into the country.

Customs and Border Protection officials have said that the trained dogs can check a vehicle at the border in seconds. The dogs are capable carrying out thorough examination in minutes. But an officer needs at least 20 minutes to check a vehicle.