4,700 horses sold illegally as food

The EU’s Judicial Co-operation Unit said last week that police and judicial authorities from France, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UK have stopped the trade in illegal horsemeat by an organised criminal network.

Eurojust, which co-ordinated the investigation, said it is ongoing.

Since 2012, 26 arrests were made, €37,000 in cash was seized, more than 200 horses were examined, dozens of searches of commercial and private premises were carried out, and more than 800 horse passports were seized, as well as medication, dozens of microchips and computer equipment.