It is estimated that smuggled and counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes represent some GBP 2 billion in lost revenue to HM Revenue and Customs.

It is also well known that counterfeit operations of this type, and the money that it raises for the large crime syndicates, goes to fund international crime and terrorism.

Wagtail dogs and handlers are the only dog supplier in the UK to work with UK HM Revenue and Customs, and UK Trading Standards, and over the past 20 months, Wagtail have had phenomenal success with HMRC in the UK, with over 1.6 million cigarettes found, and large quantities of tobacco.

The advantage of using dogs over humans is that they are more reliable and more consistent at detecting a scent. Wagtail UK dogs search for approximately 25-30 minutes at a time, for 8 hours a day, (depending on conditions such as weather,
terrain etc.), saving time, and as the number of personnel required is lower, ultimately money! Also, for a high profile search, as in factories and shops, the dogs are often seen as an excellent deterrent.

Louise Wilson, Director and Head of Training, Specialist Dog Handler at Wagtail said, "Our dogs have been able to go into an area that has previously been searched by humans or in sealed storage and container units, and can have a
positive indication and ultimately a large concealment find of illicit & illegal tobacco. We have had some amazing and extraordinary finds that quite frankly have left us in awe of our dog's fantastic abilities."

Wagtail UK has up to four trained tobacco detection dog handlers available at any time. All the handlers are trained in accordance with British Military and Civil Police guidelines for detection dogs. Wagtail supply pet passported dogs,
handlers and training for a variety of other roles including live body detection, firearms, drugs, cash, tobacco, human remains (cadaver) and also provides search and rescue dogs.

Wagtail UK is the sole contractor to the Home Office (UKBA) for body detection dogs at the ports of Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque in Northern France.