BENTON — Benton schools were locked down for nearly half an hour this morning while drug-sniffing dogs were brought in for a random search, officials say.

But no illicit drugs were found during the patrol and there was no emergency situation, said Superintendent Brian Christopher Cooper.

Officers from Benton Police and State Police worked together to mount the search around 9 a.m., using specially trained canines to search the middle and high schools around 9 a.m. while classes were in session.

The lockdown did not disrupt the regular schedule, Cooper added. It’s part of a zero tolerance policy “for those who would try to make the school a less than healthy place to grow and learn.”