On December 2, Dallas Love Field K-9 Officer Ballentine earned an extra scoop of kibble in his bowl when he alerted fellow officers to a stash of cash. Officers discovered $106,829 stuffed into two bubble envelopes along with blankets in a suitcase at the airport.
According to WFAA, Ballentine is a member of the Dallas Love Field Interdiction Squad, part of the narcotics division for the Dallas Police Department.
The police officers seized the money, which is subject to the civil asset forfeiture process. This means that the owner of the money will need to prove that the cash is not a part of any criminal activity before the funds can be released back to the owner.
As reported by KWTX News, a 25-year-old woman who lives in Chicago is the owner of the suitcase and the cash. She was at the Dallas Love Field airport for a layover when officials seized the suitcase.
For international flights, passengers can carry no more than $10,000 in cash. There is no specific guideline as to how much money a person can carry on a domestic flight, but it is not wise to transport large sums.
According to US 105 New Country, “You will be asked to account for a large sum of cash if it is discovered in the screening area. If you can’t give a reasonable answer, or if your answer seems suspicious, your money will be taken from you, and you will have to go to court to get it back.” The website for AirSafe has confirmed this as well.
Dallas Police have given no further details on the incident. The situation is under investigation, and no arrests have been made.