PSNI sniffer dogs uncover underworld cash

Cash hidden inside a TV set has been found by specially trained police sniffer dogs in the North, it was revealed today.

The animals also hunted out money stuffed up a drainpipe after being brought in to uncover the hard currency of drug dealers, extortionists and racketeers running scared of using bank accounts.

A total of £40,000 (€59,700) was seized in the raids, in Co Antrim and Armagh, this month.

Police chiefs said it was their first significant successes since the dogs were brought in as part of their new offensive on Ulster's underworld.

Detective Superintendent Pat Steele, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Economic Crime Bureau, said: "These two seizures alone have proved the worth of buying and training these dogs.

"Any money we get through the courts will be ploughed back into the fight against crime."

Six dogs, which can follow the scent for cash or drugs, are now being used to go after illegally-earned money. They were put to work in search operations and patrolling airports and harbours in the summer.

After some small-scale finds, the biggest discovery so far was made at a house in Portrush, on the north Antrim coast, on Saturday.

A Springer spaniel called Sam sniffed out £21,500 (€32,000) wrapped in plastic bags and concealed inside a television.

Earlier this month a cash seizure of £18,000 (€26,800), in sterling and euros, was made in Armagh city.

The notes, hidden in a domestic garage drainage pipe, were discovered by a Labrador, called Rio.