EUROPOL TARGETS HORSE TRAFFICKING NETWORK USING FAKE PASSPORTS, TAMPERED MICROCHIPS

Sat 12 September 2026:

Nearly 200 officers conduct searches in four countries over alleged forged passports and altered microchips

Europol supported a cross-border operation targeting a criminal network suspected of trafficking horses across Europe using forged passports and manipulated microchips, the EU law enforcement agency said Thursday.

Nearly 200 police officers and officials from various authorities participated in the operation between Sept. 8 and 9 across Belgium, France, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The Belgium-led investigation is focused on an alleged large-scale horse trafficking operation in which the animals’ identities and histories were reportedly altered to facilitate their transportation and resale across European countries.

Europol said some of the horses may have been diverted into the human food chain without their actual origins and medical histories being known.

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Forged Documents and Microchips Under Investigation

Investigators suspect criminals used counterfeit horse passports and tampered with microchips to conceal the animals’ origins, previous ownership and histories, as well as whether they were legally eligible to enter the food supply.

Authorities conducted 24 searches during the operation, including four in Belgium, six in Ireland, seven in France and seven in the Netherlands.

More than 1,000 horses were inspected, while evidence recovered during the searches is now undergoing analysis.

Investigators are working to determine where the animals ultimately ended up and identify additional people who may have been involved in the suspected criminal network.

Europol Provides Cross-Border Support

Europol assisted the investigation by helping participating countries exchange intelligence and providing operational coordination and analytical assistance.

Because of the suspected connection to the food chain, the agency also contributed expertise gained through Operation OPSON, an international initiative targeting the trafficking of counterfeit and substandard food and beverages.

Europol deployed specialists to Belgium and Ireland during the operation. They helped compare operational information with the agency’s databases and supported real-time intelligence sharing among the countries involved.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue analyzing the evidence and tracing the movement and final destinations of the horses.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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