Belgian police have arrested three suspects in an ongoing investigation into an international horse meat fraud ring, and carried out raids at 24 locations, including seven in the Netherlands.
According to the Belgian Federal Police, a horse trader in East Flanders was at the centre of a ring which faked passport and microchip information to export horses used in racing for slaughter.
European regulations stipulate that animals destined for a slaughterhouse must be fitted with a microchip that tracks, among other things, whether or not they have been treated with medication.
An investigation by Belgian authorities revealed a large number of horses exported from Ireland to mainland Europe had modified or manipulated microchips.
During the raids, more than 1,000 horses were checked and many were seized. Police also confiscated electronics and more than €100,000 in cash.
The operation was carried out with the assistance of Europol, together with Dutch, French and Irish authorities.
In 2013, the Netherlands was embroiled in a horse meat scandal after it was found in products said to be 100% beef in Britain, Sweden, Ireland and Poland. The Netherlands is a major processor of horse meat imported from abroad.
