Police dog Nico sniffs out 18 suspected illegal immigrants in Cannock
More than a dozen suspected illegal immigrants from Vietnam were rooted out in Cannock, including four hiding beneath a pile of tyres - thanks to the sterling efforts of a Staffordshire police dog.
Immigration and police officers swooped on the town after reports of an incident involving people who had entered the country illegally.
A National Police Air Service helicopter hovered over the town while officers patrolled the streets but it was four-year-old German Shepherd Nico who made the key discoveries as the drama unfolded.
Handler PC Rich Birkin took him on a search at a landfill in the town and within 15 minutes had sniffed out six people.
Then just over an hour later Nico discovered four more beneath a pile of tyres on a road close to the site.
Later on around 7.15pm PC Birkin and his trusty sidekick were present when two more people were found at a nearby store.
The Home Office confirmed 18 people were arrested in total on the night of December 11.
Spokeswoman Catherine Ellis said: "Immigration Enforcement officers were contacted by Staffordshire police on Friday 11 December after police officers attended an incident in Cannock.
"Police officers arrested 18 Vietnamese people on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.
"Six adults have been ordered to report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are progressed, and 12 minors have been passed into the care of social services.
"If someone is found to have no legal right to remain in the UK we will take action to remove them."
Nico joined Staffordshire Police in 2012 and is a general purpose dog on the force trained to search for missing people, objects dropped or concealed during a crime, tracking down suspects fleeing a scene as well as disarming armed suspects.
He can also be called upon to control hostile crowds.
Nico and PC Birch are based in Stafford but cover several areas throughout the county including Cannock, Rugeley, Burntwood and Lichfield.
Compliments flooded in for the pooch after Staffs Dogs and Armed Response posted his heroics on social media.
Twitter user @NesWaeling posted 'A BIG well done fella :) #salute.
While Nicky Christie said 'Well done Nico! No hiding from a land shark!"
Alan Clarke added: "Oh well done #PdNico and handler, superb work as always from you guys."
