December is supposed to be a time to spread holiday cheer and visit with loved ones. But many dedicated employees continue to work hard, even on the jolliest days of the year. Some of those hardworking individuals are our brave K9 officers.
This holiday season, many police K9s fought crime, uncovering illegal drugs and over a million dollars in drug money. Officers never would’ve been able to discover these crimes without the pups’ amazing sense of smell. So, thank you to all the K9 officers who helped keep the holiday season safer.
K9 Officer Beny’s Many Achievements
K9 Officer Beny from Merced, California has been on a roll this year. Merced’s California Highway Patrol (CHP) has highlighted Beny’s many achievements on social media over the years. And in December 2020 alone, the heroic pup helped with two major drug busts.
In mid December, officers pulled over a white Ford for speeding, but soon discovered that the driver might be engaged in criminal activity. They had Beny sniff the car, and sure enough, the pup alerted officers to narcotics in the vehicle. After further investigation, police found over 1 million dollars in cash. It’s believed that this money was related to drug sales.
Then, only days before Christmas, Beny successfully found more drug money. Officers pulled over a Chevy Tahoe for following another vehicle too closely. Beny quickly sniffed the exterior of the car and alerted officers of narcotics yet again. They soon found a suitcase full of cash in the back of the vehicle. They suspect that the total is about $300,000.
The officers took the money, and the man was arrested for possessing over $100,000 related to drug sales. It is then up to the district attorney to determine whether or not the seizure is justified. But no matter the result, Beny’s work in both of these situations was incredible!
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Another Major Bust in California
But Beny wasn’t the only successful K9 this holiday season. On Christmas day, a K9 officer in Blythe, California discovered 25 pounds of methamphetamine, a handgun, and 50 grams of marijuana in one car. A vehicle with an Oklahoma license plate was crossing the border into California when the dog was instructed to sniff the car. Officers further investigated the car after the dog alerted them. They discovered about $60,000 worth of drugs.
“Smugglers often move illegal contraband on holidays, with the hope and expectation that law enforcement will have their guard down,” officials with Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. “Agents and their canine partners, however, work around the clock to secure our borders and to prevent contraband from making it further into the interior of our country.”
While this canine was credited for the drug discovery, his name wasn’t mentioned in the announcement. But like Beny, he worked extra hard during the holiday season, and his dedication paid off. Thank you to all the brave police K9s out there. Quickly finding illegal items would be near impossible without their assistance.
H/T: kmph.com and 8newsnow.com
Featured Image: @chpmerced/Facebook
Toledo, United States.
