CURRENCY detection dogs have helped customs officials seize more than £675,000 across the south east in the past six months.

Introduced by HM Customs and Excise in May 1999, the dogs are now well established as part of the UK's detector dog pro-gramme, with teams strategically based at ports and airports.

Latest figures show suspect cash running into millions of pounds has been seized by police and customs officers across the country in just half a year.

Locally, the figure equates to well over £675,000.

New powers introduced under the Proceeds of crime Act 2002 - which provides a scheme to seize, detain and forfeit cash above £10,000 - have helped customs officials more than double the amount of suspect money taken out of circulation this year.

Home Office minister Caroline Flint said: "The new cash seizure powers are a real success story. Hard cash remains the criminals' currency of choice. This seized cash would have funded crime, such as buying drugs, or was the profit of crime, such as selling drugs.

"I look forward to magistrates' final decisions on this cash being forfeited."

Customs minister John Healey said: "It is vital that customs and police make full use of their new cash powers.

"The cash is the working capital for future crime.

"By taking the money out of circulation, we are cutting criminal supply lines and can prevent further serious crime from being financed."