The mafia have ordered a hit on one of their most tenacious foes – a drugs sniffer dog who has cost them millions.
The nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Pocho, has uncovered more than two tonnes of illegal substances for the Naples police.
The Camorra – one of the oldest and biggest criminal organisations in Italy – has now stuck a €5,000 (over N2 million) bounty on Pocho’s head, The Times reported.
The dog, pictured, was named after the former Napoli footballer Ezequiel Lavezzi, who is nicknamed Pocho – which means The Chubby One.
He belonged to a doctor living near the city’s San Paolo soccer stadium, but was donated to the police when the owner realised his son was allergic to the dog’s fur.
His latest heroics include detecting almost 5st of cocaine during a raid. He also reportedly found cocaine disguised as milk powder in a baby’s bottle.
The Camorra is said to have left poisoned bait for him – and has even tried to protect its drug stashes by placing female dogs nearby to distract him.