An Garda Síochána has carried out a major series of raids across six Irish counties as part of a Europe-wide Europol operation targeting a suspected criminal network involved in the trafficking of horses.
The coordinated enforcement operation took place between Tuesday, September 8, and Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Gardaí from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) carried out searches at locations in Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Dublin and Donegal.
A total of 25 searches were conducted across Europe, including eight in Ireland. Officers from the Belgian Police and Europol also participated in the operation, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provided assistance during the searches.
The investigation, which is being led by authorities in Belgium, centres on allegations that a criminal network was trafficking horses across Europe using falsified documentation and manipulated microchips.
Investigators believe the network may have been altering the identification details and histories of horses in order to give the animals new identities. It is alleged that forged horse passports and tampered microchips were used to conceal the animals’ true backgrounds and allow them to be moved and resold across European countries.
Authorities are also investigating concerns that the fraudulent changes may have affected whether some of the horses were eligible to enter the human food chain, raising potential public health and animal welfare concerns.
In a statement, an Garda spokesperson said the force had played a central role in the international enforcement operation, working alongside police and administrative authorities in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
Europol provided support through the exchange of intelligence, operational coordination and analytical expertise, assisting authorities involved in the investigation.
Evidence was seized during the searches and is now being examined by investigators. Gardaí said the investigation remains ongoing and that further developments may follow as the evidence is analysed.
An Garda Síochána said the operation demonstrates its continued commitment to tackling serious and organised crime while protecting public health and animal welfare.
The international investigation highlights the cooperation between law enforcement agencies across Europe in tackling criminal networks involved in the fraudulent movement and trade of animals.
