The Lee County Sheriff's Office, Opelika Police Department, and Chambers County Sheriff's Office brought drug detection dogs into Smiths Station High School, Tuesday.

The decision to conduct random searches for illegal substances is up to the principal and administration of each of the four high schools in Lee County, according to superintendent, Dr. Stephen Nowlin.

“What they would do was ask kids to step outside the classroom and then the dogs could sniff the area around the students. Then the dogs would go inside the classroom while the students were out and check the possessions that were left behind,” said Dr. Nowlin.

“In this particular case, had a canine with additional capabilities, he is an explosives detection canine,” said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.

In the school of about 1700 students, Dr. Nowlin says 700 were searched.

What did the canine units find? Nothing.

“We were ecstatic, we've been trying to crack down and have a presence around campus with he help of our deputies on campus and it's paying off,” said Smiths Station High assistant principal, Russ Hardwick.

Four assistant principals, a principal, and Lee County Sheriff on campus at all times, Hardwick said safety is a priority. Sheriff Jones said this drug search is a preventative measure.

“It is certainly not out intent to catch people as much as it is to just simply prevent the situation from occurring where we catch someone in the first place,” said Sheriff Jones.

“At least we feel that it's not a large problem. And certainly by not finding any, we don't think we have a significant problem at all at Smiths Station High School,” said Nowlin.”

This is the second search to happen at Smiths Station High School this year and the first search happened only in the parking lot. Drug sniffing dogs did not go inside the school.

Dr. Nowlin said the first search was done to check for drugs in vehicles. In that search, he said one car was found with a traceable amount of an illegal substance.