Dogs sniff out cash
29.08.09
Sniffer dogs who can detect the smell of money are being used at Birmingham Airport to catch to criminals trying to smuggle cash out of the country. In the past month they have detected over £420,000 being carried by passengers, with £145,000 being confiscated pending further inquiries by UK Border Agency investigators amid suspicion it could be the proceeds of crime.
One passenger had over £33,000 seized on two separate trips in two weeks after the dog detected the telltale smell of ink on banknotes. On August 12, sniffer dog Max discovered £28,000 in £50 notes hidden inside video cassette cases in a briefcase of a passenger bound for Yemen via Dubai. The passenger claimed the money was hidden to stop if from being stolen, but checks revealed the man had an outstanding VAT debt and it was seized pending further inquiries. 10 days later the same man was stopped again heading to Yemen via Dubai after a dog sniffed out more than £5,000 that was also seized.
UK Border Agency dog handler Dean Goddard said that gun dogs were being used as they were ideal for the work because of their natural instinct to hunt and retrieved based on smells.
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