Colombian drug traffickers cut open the bellies of puppies and inserted packets of heroin to smuggle the drugs into the U.S., Reuters reported Feb. 2.

In addition to human couriers, a group of Colombians used Labrador Retriever puppies in a plan to smuggle about $20 million worth of heroin; six puppies were found to have a total of 6.6 pounds of heroin surgically inserted into their bodies. The smugglers planned to remove the drugs from the dogs once they cleared U.S. customs.

The plot was broken up by U.S. and Colombian officials. Three of the dogs died of infections; the others have been placed with Colombian families. A DEA official said using puppies to smuggle heroin "is a true indication of the extent that drug dealers go to make their profit."