MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Larishka sniffs 86.000 dollars from car heading of a ferry to Uruguay

The ferry was only 15 minutes from departure when the dog found the 86.500 dollars in one of the engine's filters

Agents working for Argentina's Federal Public Incomes Administration (AFIP), with a little help from Larishka the dog, found 86,500 dollars hidden by an Argentine who was trying to leave the country for Uruguay.

 The passenger was carrying 6,500 in a hold-all pack and was about to leave the Buquebus ferry terminal in Buenos Aires for Colonia, on the other side of the Río de la Plata, when Larishka turned her attention towards the car engine.

AFIP agents followed up the dog's hint, and discovered a further 86,500 dollars in the vehicle's air filter, just 15 minutes before the boat was due to leave the terminal.

As a result, the revenue agency suspended the passenger's CUIT (self-employed status) tax number, prepared a Suspicious Operation Report for the Financial Irregularities Unit and requested data from Uruguayan authorities, to determine if the suspect held investments or deposits in the neighboring country that had not been declared.

AFIP chief Ricardo Echegaray was responsible for setting up the Canine Training and Instruction Centre in Boulogne, Buenos Aires province. The agency has more than 300 dogs trained to detect drugs, illicit money and recover missing persons.