Four former RUC officers have been brought in to help with a major investigation into the illegal movement of livestock in Northern Ireland before and during the foot-and-mouth crisis, it was revealed tonight.
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Mrs Brid Rodgers: has warned farmers they must be prepared for more outbreaks
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Ex-members of the RUC's criminal investigations unit are involved in an inquiry into animals imported into the North before the first outbreak occurred in Meigh, south Armagh, in March.
The North's department of agriculture's team of investigators now includes two former RUC inspectors and two former sergeants who retired early from the force.
As Northern Ireland agriculture minister Ms Bríd Rodgers confirmed that 19 people are being questioned about the illegal movement of animals, her officials would not comment on the involvement of the former policemen.
"The department does not discuss individual employees or our investigative procedures or personnel," a spokesman said.
However sources close to the investigative team said the former officers were looking at range of alleged scams.
"The team is trying to get to the heart of the smuggling operation and other fraud that has gone before and during this crisis," a source said.
"They are looking at a range of incidents including the importation of livestock and the distribution of some animals on farms in Northern Ireland and the Republic."
Last week, the North's department of agriculture confirmed it was widening its inquiry to trace the movement of 15,000 animals brought into the North between January 1st and 29th.
Ms Rodgers told the Northern Ireland Assembly today of the 19 people arrested over illegal animal movements, three were being investigated by her department and 16 by the RUC.
She also revealed: "I can say that over this weekend, there have been six interceptions of illegal movement of animals by the RUC and prosecutions are being followed up."
Meanwhile as her officials anxiously awaited the results of foot-and-mouth tests on a suspected fifth case in Ballintoy, Co Antrim, Ms Rodgers warned farmers they must be prepared for even more outbreaks.
The four confirmed cases so far have been at Meigh, Co Armagh, two in Ardboe in Co Tyrone and one in Cushendall, Co Antrim.
If the Ballintoy results prove positive, that would signal a deepening of the crisis as the suspect farm is outside the 10 kilometre restriction zone imposed after the third outbreak of the disease at Cushendall.
PA