A criminal network suspected of trafficking horses across Europe was targeted in an international enforcement operation by An Garda Síochána earlier this week.
The criminal network is suspected of forging horse passports and manipulating microchips to grant the animals new identities, obscuring their true background and eligibility for human consumption.
Gardaí, with the support of Europol, Belgian police and the Department of Agriculture, undertook the operation on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Searches were carried out in counties Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Dublin and Donegal by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Seizures
During the co-ordinated action, 25 searches were conducted across Europe, including eight in Ireland.
Evidence seized is currently under analysis and investigations are ongoing.
An Garda Síochána worked closely with police forces and administrative authorities in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, with Europol providing vital support in information exchange, operational co-ordination and analytical expertise.
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