Hungarian authorities investigate illegal dog trafficking network

The National Investigation Bureau (NNI) is investigating an illegal dog trafficking network involving veterinarians and pet dealers in Pest County. Authorities suspect five individuals of participating in a scheme where veterinarians were paid to issue fraudulent animal passports.

To bypass regulations that prohibit exporting puppies under 15 weeks of age, dealers falsified data to make the animals appear older. This allowed them to sell small breeds, such as Poodles, Shih Tzus, Maltese, and French Bulldogs, at prices ten times higher than their purchase cost—selling for 3,000 to 4,000 euros in countries like Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

Due to the falsified records, many animals did not receive mandatory vaccinations or microchipping until just before travel, leading to illnesses and deaths during transit. Some exported animals were found to have parasitic or musculoskeletal issues. Following an investigation into the network's operations, authorities conducted raids on breeders, dealers, and veterinary clinics in September and October.