Horse Meat: A New Case of Fraud Uncovered in Europe

An organized criminal network that was selling horse meat unfit for human consumption in the European Union has just been dismantled. Joint action by the countries involved, with assistance from Eurojust, the European judicial coordination unit, brought this trafficking operation to an end. On April 24, 2015, law enforcement and judicial authorities in France, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom carried out a joint operation, coordinated by Eurojust, which led to the arrest of 26 people. In addition, searches led to the seizure of €37,000 in cash and 800 horse passports, as well as medications and dozens of microchips. Furthermore, veterinary services will need to examine more than 200 horses. By falsifying identification documents, the traffickers were able to fraudulently introduce illegal horse meat into the European food chain. The coordinated action by member states brings to a close a lengthy investigation that began in November 2012 in Belgium. In France alone—which began its investigation in July 2013—some 400 horse passports containing irregularities were detected. Between 2010 and 2013, French authorities estimate that 4,700 horses unfit for human consumption were slaughtered and introduced into the food chain. A joint investigation team was formed between France and Belgium in May 2014, funded by Eurojust. It revealed that the criminal group’s activities extended to other Member States, such as Ireland and the Netherlands. After being notified by Belgium and France, Kent Police also launched an investigation in the United Kingdom.