Irish police crack smuggling ring

11 August 1998

Irish police crack smuggling ring

IRISH police have uncovered a cattle racket involving the movement of animals across the Ulster border.

The fraud involves the substitution of quality cattle due for slaughter in Northern Ireland under BSE regulations with inferior cows from the Irish Republic.

Irish agricultural officials have raided a farm in Co Cork and seized a number of animals and equipment for re-tagging cattle.

Profits from the practice are believed to be about I£300 (£260) per beast. There is a ban on importing cattle from the north to the south.

• The Scotsman 10/08/98 page 25