Meet Pub: The Airport Dog Who Helped Seize $75K in Hidden Cash in Two Months

A police dog has become a star at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta after detecting approximately $75,000 in undeclared currency in just two months. The dog, a Belgian Malinois, accompanies Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and is trained to sniff out currency and weapons in travelers' luggage.

Named Pub, the dog has helped agents seize around $44,000 and $30,000 on two separate occasions. This accounts for nearly 20% of the total $372,264 in unreported currency seized by CBP at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the first three months of 2026.

On February 4, Pub alerted officers after sniffing the luggage of a family headed to Doha, Qatar. CBP discovered the family had $30,417 in their possession. According to the law enforcement agency, the family initially claimed they only had $6,000.

After Pub’s alert, officers gave them multiple chances to declare the full amount. When the family did not, officers inspected their luggage, and the money was seized.

Then, on March 22, Pub detected $44,432 from a U.S. citizen bound for San Salvador. The undeclared money was seized.

While there is no limit on the cash a person can carry when traveling out of the United States, travelers must declare any amount exceeding $10,000 to the U.S. Treasury. The declaration is made via the FinCEN 105 form, which can be completed online before arriving at the airport. Alternatively, travelers can seek assistance from CBP officers to complete the form upon arrival at the airport.

The rule has been put in place to monitor funds collected from illegal activities such as Two teens, man charged in human smuggling operations near Mexico border and fraud. CBP explained the need for the checks in an official statement and said, “Unreported and bulk currency smuggling, which has been shown to be proceeds of illicit activity, such as from narcotics and human smuggling, and fraud and other financial crimes that prey on our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”

According to CBP, agents give travelers several opportunities to declare currency before seizing it. There have been instances where people have denied carrying more than $10,000 at the airport, only to admit it during inspection. In such cases, agents helped them complete FinCEN Form 105.

The presence of Pub may encourage honesty among these passengers. In the first quarter of 2026, CBP officers assisted travelers in submitting FinCEN Form 105s totaling around $3 million. CBP Atlanta Area Port Director Zachary Thomas urged passengers to truthfully declare any currency they are taking out of the United States.

“Travelers must understand that failing to declare currency can result in serious consequences, including seizure of funds and possible criminal charges. Our officers remain committed to enforcing all of our nation’s laws, including currency reporting, and hold violators accountable,” Thomas said in a statement.