Europol targets suspected illegal horse meat network
11.09.2026, DPA
Europol supported raids in four countries targeting suspected illegal horse traders accused of giving thousands of retired racehorses false identities and selling them for slaughter, the European police agency said on Thursday.
Investigators suspect horses that were not approved for human consumption may have been illegally processed into meat products.
Around 200 investigators took part in the operation in Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, where the investigation is being led.
According to prosecutors in the Belgian city of Dendermonde, the traders are suspected of using forged documents and manipulated microchips to declare retired racehorses as suitable for slaughter.
Many of the horses had been given medication and were therefore not approved for human consumption.
A horse that previously had virtually no commercial value could in this way be sold for between €1,000 ($1,160) and €1,500, prosecutors said.
More than 1,000 horses were checked during searches and a large number were seized. Investigators are also looking into what happened to other horses linked to the suspected network.
More than €100,000 in cash was seized in Belgium and three suspects were arrested.
According to Dutch animal welfare organization House of Animals, many of the animals were retired racehorses from the United Kingdom and Ireland that had been transported to other European countries in poor conditions before ending up at slaughterhouses.
The organization said horse meat in the Netherlands was allegedly processed into snacks including meatballs and croquettes and distributed through wholesalers.
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