Probe into cattle smuggling

AN alleged cross-border cattle smuggling scam is continuing to be investigated by the authorities in both jurisdictions.

The scam, believed to have been smashed as a result of the probe, came to light as the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the gardaí attempted to trace cattle stolen from the west of Ireland.

One line of inquiry is investigating if Northern Ireland cattle destined for removal from the food chain through the UK’s Over Thirty Months scheme were switched with cows in poorer condition from the south and slaughtered in the Republic, yielding a profit of up to e200 per animal.