Sombra the six-year-old German Shepherd has been sniffing out drugs as part of Colombia’s anti-narcotics police since she was a puppy - but now, one of the country’s most powerful gangs has put a price on her head.
The drug-sniffing dog is responsible for finding more than 2000kg of cocaine during her time with the National Police of Colombia, prompting the Urabenos, or Gulf Clan, to offer the bounty.
Sombra a drug-sniffing dog sniffs boxes searching for drugs at the cargo hold of El Dorado airport in Bogota, Colombia. Source: AP
Colombian police uncovered the threat against the talented canine during an intercepted phone call earlier this month. They say the gang has put out a bounty on the dog's head.
Reports on the bounty's size vary between 20 and 200 million Colombian pesos (between $9540 and 94,124 in Australian dollars).
It comes as no surprise to Colombian police, who say Sombra, meaning 'Shadow' in English, has led to the seizure of nine tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 245 suspects, many of whom are linked to Urabenos.
Led by Dario Antonio Usuga, who goes by the name of ‘Otoniel’, the clan is considered one of the most ambitious and ruthless gangs in the country.
The anti-narcotic police tweeted that “in the last three years she (Sombra) became a torment of ‘Otoniel’.
Her usual handler Jose Rojas told Colombian News Agency RCN Sombra’s “sense of smell is far beyond that of other dogs".
In a bid to protect their precious drug-busting weapon, Colombian officials have transferred Sombra from the port city of Turbo, known to police as Urabenos’ stronghold, to the capital city of Bogota, where she now works at the international airport.
Handler Jose Rojas and drug dog Sombra patrol outside the cargo hold of El Dorado airport in Bogota, Colombia. Source: AP
She is reportedly transported to and from the airport in a van with tinted windows, flanked by two armed officers.
While Colombia continues to try to shake off its reputation as the cocaine capital of the world, it seems Sombra’s work is dearly needed, with the South American country producing more of the drug than ever before.
According to a US government report released in June, coca production- the base ingredient for the drug- rose 11 per cent in 2017, has reached an all-time high.
Colombian pure cocaine production also increased by 19 per cent from 772 tonnes in 2016 to 921 tonnes in 2017.
President-elect Ivan Duque promised a tougher approach on coca production during his election campaign, with strategies including aerial spraying and drones. But the use of police officers and dogs on the ground still plays a big part in the country's war on drugs.
Colombia’s national police estimate it has lost at least 1800 officers in the last 20 years as well as several police dog in its effort to combat the drug trade.
