ARCHIVED - Gang that sold horse meat unfit for human consumption in Spain dismantled
The abused horses were purchased from all over Spain and kept in an illegal Valencia farm
A criminal organisation specialising in producing horse meat unfit for human consumption all across Spain has been dismantled, resulting in the arrest of 35 people and the investigation into six legitimate businesses for crimes that range from money laundering and document falsification to animal abuse and risk to public health.
The investigation, carried out between the Guardia Civil and Europol, centered around a defunct equine farm in Valencia, which was closed down in 2019. After finding 80 horses in deplorable conditions, the authorities ordered the removal of the animals and the immediate closure of the livestock facility. Most of the equines were suffering from zoonotic diseases, which can be passed to humans, and one had to be euthanised.
The latest operation found that the criminal organisation was purchasing horses from all over Spain and transporting them to the Valencia farm. The documents and registration for the equines were illegally altered, and they were all falsely certified as fit for slaughter and subsequent human consumption.
Once the livestock facility was full, the gang leader arranged the transport of the horses to various EU countries such as Germany, Belgium and Italy, hence the involvement of Europol.
Some of the most serious cases of animal abuse were reported during these international shipments, when the vast majority of the horses had no access to food or water and were subjected to prolonged periods of stress.
Here in Spain, the criminal kingpin managed to sell many of his animals to equine feedlots, which are livestock farms specialised in fattening horses for supermarkets, butcher shops and private sales.
As a result of the investigations carried out by the Civil Guard, more than half a tonne of horse meat ready for sale in specialised butcher shops has been seized because it constitutes a risk to public health, since it has been mixed with Sandach meat (by-products of animal origin not intended for human consumption).
The horses, which were purchased for as little as 100 euros, and often donated for free, could be sold on for meat for 1,500 euros, so the Spanish authorities estimate that the illegal business was worth close to 4.5 million euros.
Image: Guardia Civil
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