Japan’s sniffer dogs that detect illegal drugs at airports are set to be joined by canines trained to use their noses to uncover large amounts of cash in luggage.
Two dogs that went through a month of money-sniffing practice demonstrated their abilities to the media at Narita Airport near Tokyo.
In a test, the dogs checked 14 pieces of luggage and stopped at a bag that was suspect. It took about 60 seconds.
Anyone entering or leaving Japan is required by law to declare cash or checks exceeding 1 million yen, or about 6,800 dollars.
Japan Customs says the training of such dogs will improve detection of illegal activity at airports throughout Japan.
The head of the Tokyo Customs Enforcement Division, Ueda Kenji said: “Currency detector dogs can easily move to different places and help inspectors check luggage on the spot. They have such mobility.”
Ueda says the number of people leaving Japan increases in the summer and the dogs can help improve border checks at such times.