The Department of Agriculture has mounted a counter-offensive against cross-Border cattle smuggling, which has resulted in the seizure of 159 animals recently, Sean Mac Connell writes.There is a worldwide ban on the sale of beef from Britain and Northern Ireland, where all the animals aged over 30 months are to be slaughtered under BSE eradication measures. The recent upsurge in smuggling has been caused by a demand for cattle in the Republic which has driven prices upwards.
When the ban was imposed by the EU, the Irish Government spent more than £20 million sealing off the Border to prevent animals being smuggled south. To date Operation Matador has resulted in the seizure of 1,365 animals, of which 769 were destroyed. In recent weeks Department inspectors at meat plants have increased their vigilance and 22 seizures have been made involving 159 animals. On November 22nd, 22 animals were discovered in Co Tipperary.
The operation was scaled down at the end of last year when the Northern authorities came to grips with slaughtering older cattle. Operation Matador cost £50,000 a day in Garda overtime. A new plan was put in place this year, with Army and Customs officials operating mobile checkpoints.