Europol uncovers horse smuggling ring that may have put meat on dinner plates

Raids have been carried out this week in Belgium, France, Ireland and the Netherlands, Europol writes.

Using “forged passports and manipulated ID chips,” the perpetrators concealed the horses’ identities. They were then allegedly sold across Europe, in some cases for slaughter. “Some of the animals may have ultimately entered the (human) food supply chain without their origin and history being known,” Europol warns.

The police organization says it is not yet known where all the horses have ended up, but that the matter is still being investigated.