Dogs Help Sniff Out Crime At Phila. Airport
By Diana Rocco
PHILADLEPHIA (CBS) -- Two very special crimefighters spend their days and nights on the job at Philadelphia International Airport -- sniffing out crime.
Customs and Border Protection says their efforts are really paying off.
Meet beagles Mattie and Auburn, agricultural K-9's patrolling Philadelphia International Airport looking for any type of goods like food, flowers even animals smuggled or accidentally brought into the country.
"If something does get in, it could destroy millions and millions of crops."
Auburn's handler Melissa is hearing impaired and she's taught her sign language. Two weeks ago Auburn and Melissa uncovered thousands of unreported currency inside a woman's luggage.
"It's a great feeling when they find something, especially something big," said the K-9 enforcement officer. "It's the teamwork that we do."
And in 2010 she also sniffed out 89 pounds of khat, a banned herbal stimulant, in a passenger's suitcase.
On average about 4,000 passengers come through PHL's international terminal per day this time of year and it's when those flights come in that the dogs go to work.
On a flight from Cancun, Auburn made at least three seizures which produced a few apples and a banana left in passengers' bags.
"A lot of people believe it or not, they just forget that they have one apple in their bag and you know when a dog finds it they're so surprised," said K-9 enforcement officer Sharon Taylor.
The dogs may be small, but the K-9 handlers say they've got a nose that's helping to protect borders and keep the country safe.
"They appreciate what we do and every once in a while people say thank you," said Taylor.
