Gardai investigating the source of the Co Louth outbreak of foot-and-mouth have impounded a lorry they suspect may have been used to smuggle sheep across the Border.
The vehicle is registered to an address in Northern Ireland but may have been used by an alleged smuggler based in north Louth.
This man has allegedly been involved in smuggling livestock across the Border for many years. He has no convictions.
The lorry was impounded by gardai last night at a yard situated north of Dundalk. It will be disinfected by the Department of Agriculture before being examined.
Garda sources confirmed the alleged smuggler has been interviewed by detectives and Department of Agriculture officials involved in the investigation into the source of the disease outbreak at Proleek.
They believe there is a connection between the Louth outbreak and the one at Meigh, south Armagh, which is four miles from Proleek.