LANCASTER DRUG BUST INITIATED BY 'BRESTON'

One of the biggest drug busts in Erie County history, in which police
seized more than a half-ton of marijuana in the Town of Lancaster,
was initiated by "Breston," the Cheektowaga Police K-9, and Breston's
handler Officer Dan Smith.

Breston detected what turned out to be 1,100 pounds of marijuana as
police investigated a storage shed in Lancaster earlier this week.

Lancaster police used Breston's "positive alert" - the scent of
possible drugs - to obtain a search warrant Sunday, according to
Cheektowaga police records.

Police then discovered the marijuana as they searched the shed.

Western New York municipalities which have dogs trained to find drugs
often loan the animals to towns and villages which don't have them,
said police Lieutenant Cheryl Rucinski.

"We do help out if they need that type of service," Rucinski said.

Town of Lancaster police requested Breston, and Smith accompanied the
dog as his "handler."

Breston, a six-year-old male Belgian malinois, was trained to
recognize the scent of drugs in Holland, and only recognizes Dutch
commands to seek out the smell.

"(Breston) was trained to (recognize the scent of drugs) through a
game with a toy scented like various narcotics," said Smith.

Smith also trained Breston in the U.S. to recognize common English
commands, such as "sit."

The confiscated marijuana's value was estimated at more than $2
million, according to Lancaster police.

No arrests have yet been made in the incident, though Town of
Lancaster police are continuing their investigation.

Overall, Lancaster officials were pleased to seize such a large
amount of drugs.

"We're ecstatic. The seizure was major, and anything we can do to
combat this type of activity, we're going to continue to do," said
Don Lynch of the Lancaster police department.

In addition, Cheektowaga police could receive part of a possible
monetary settlement, said Rucinski.

"Sometimes there's a monetary settlement," Rucinski said. "It must go
through forfeiture and several steps first, however."