The appeal concerned the section 8 standard governing warrantless sniffer-dog searches of checked airline luggage and the role of drug-courier profile factors in establishing reasonable suspicion.
The Court held that reasonable suspicion is assessed on the totality of objectively ascertainable circumstances, including inculpatory and exculpatory information, without imposing a duty to investigate every innocent explanation.
It found the trial judge erred by assessing indicators in isolation and by misapprehending reliability evidence concerning the police dog’s performance.
The Court concluded the constellation of factors justified deployment, the sniff search was reasonable, and the positive indication elevated grounds to arrest.
The appeal was dismissed.
