The five men arrested this week in connection with an investigation into the tampering of horse passports have been released without charge by gardaí.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to this investigation.

On Tuesday, gardaí arrested the five men and detained them under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford and Roscommon Garda stations.

Raids

The arrests were made in relation to an investigation into the tampering of identification passports and microchips of horses presented for slaughter in Ireland.

In June of last year, Gardaí and the Department of Agriculture carried out seven planned raids at farms, houses and commercial premises in Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Westmeath and Kilkenny in relation to the investigation.

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Analysis: investigation into tampering with horse passports