Border agents seize cash at Birmingham airport - Birmingham Airport News

Airport news for Birmingham on 31/08/2009.

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The money was intercepted by UK Border Agency officials, in amounts that ranged from £8,500 to £28,000, earlier in August. It is believed that all of the money seized involved profits from criminal activity.

Seven separate incidents were reported, involving eight men and one woman from a number of countries, who were caught when sniffer dogs found the cash.

In all, 70 specially-trained dogs are used at airports across the UK, and are responsible for discovering as much as £10 million in cash annually. They also help uncover up to nine million cigarettes, around 3,500kg of loose tobacco and at least 1,500kg of class A drugs.

Of the money seized earlier this month, £28,000 was found in £50 notes concealed in video cassette cases. The passenger that was caught with the money was trying to board a flight to Dubai. He told officials that he was carrying £1,000 but a sniffer dog uncovered the truth. Twelve days later, the same man was caught once again, travelling the same route, and carrying £5,000 in £5 notes.

When dogs sniffed out £9,000 in bank notes carried by one passenger, he claimed that he was investing the money in the UK because of attractive interest rates.

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