The Gardaí have taken part in a major Europe-wide investigation into a criminal network suspected of trafficking horses using forged passports and manipulated microchips.
The operation, coordinated by Belgium and supported by the EU’s police cooperation agency, Europol, involved almost 200 officers carrying out 24 searches in Belgium, Ireland, France and the Netherlands between 8 and 9 September.
Six searches were conducted in Ireland across Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Dublin and Donegal. More than 1,000 horses were checked as investigators examined whether animals had been fraudulently resold under false identities.
Investigators believe forged horse passports and altered microchips were used to conceal the animals’ origins, medical histories and eligibility to enter the food chain.
Some horses may have been sent for slaughter despite not being authorised for human consumption, raising concerns about animal welfare, food safety and the reliability of Europe’s traceability systems.
“Investigators suspect that forged horse passports and manipulated microchips were used to effectively give animals new identities,” Europol said.
The organisation warned that the alleged activity could have allowed criminals to obscure “where the horses had come from, their previous history and whether they were eligible to enter the food chain”.
Evidence seized during the searches is now being analysed. Authorities are also working to establish the final destination of the horses and identify further people who may have been involved.
Europol deployed experts to Belgium and Ireland to cross-check information against its databases and support real-time coordination between the participating countries.
The investigation is still ongoing. The gardaí worked alongside Belgian, French and Dutch police, as well as food safety and veterinary agencies.