# European horse meat trafficking investigation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-horse-meat-trafficking-investigation > Updated: 2026-09-15T02:09:26.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 2. Europol and authorities from Belgium, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands conducted a coordinated operation on September 8 and 9 to dismantle a criminal network involved in large-scale horse meat fraud. The investigation targeted a scheme where suspects allegedly used forged documents and manipulated microchips to disguise the identities and medical histories of horses, particularly retired racehorses from the United Kingdom and Ireland. By falsifying certificates, the network reclassified animals that were unfit for human consumption due to previous medication treatments as suitable for slaughter. This allowed criminals to sell low-value animals for between 1,000 and 1,500 euros. There are significant concerns that meat from these animals may have entered the food supply chain through wholesalers and been processed into products such as meatballs and croquettes. The operation involved approximately 200 investigators who conducted 24 searches and inspected more than 1,000 horses. In Belgium, authorities arrested three suspects and seized over 100,000 euros in cash. The total fraud is estimated to involve millions of euros. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-15: Europol investigates large-scale European horse meat fraud Europol and European authorities have uncovered a major fraud network using falsified horse passports and microchips to illegally introduce unsuitable meat into the food supply chain. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/europol-investigates-large-scale-european-horse-meat-fraud ### 2026-09-10: Europol dismantles illegal horse meat trafficking ring in Europe Europol coordinated raids in four European countries to dismantle a ring trafficking illegal horse meat. Suspects allegedly used forged microchips and papers to sell medicated racehorses as safe for human food. 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-police-raid-network-involved-in-horse-meat-fraud --- Cite as: European horse meat trafficking investigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-horse-meat-trafficking-investigation