Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension introduces electronic-detecting K-9s

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has added two specialized Labrador retrievers, Mabel and Sebastian, to its K-9 team. These dogs are trained to locate hidden electronic devices and components that may contain critical evidence in criminal investigations.

The dogs are trained to detect triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), a chemical associated with memory storage chips. This capability allows them to find small items such as microSD cards, USB drives, cell phones, and external hard drives that might be concealed in locations missed by manual searches.

Mabel, a one-year-old from Hungary, is partnered with Special Agent Sean Mooney. Sebastian, a two-year-old from the Netherlands, is partnered with Special Agent Dan Sachi.