Gardaí investigating the suspected contamination of horse meat have searched several sites across five counties.
It relates to the export of horse meat suspected of being contaminated.
The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was assisted by officials from the Department of Agriculture and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
They conducted planned searches at farms, houses and a commercial premises in Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Westmeath and Kilkenny on Thursday morning.
A total of seven sites were searched.
The searches were part of an ongoing investigation being conducted into fraudulent practices, regarding tampering of identification passports and microchips of horses presented for slaughter.
The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was supported by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.
An Garda Síochána has said it will not be commenting further for operational reasons, as the investigation is ongoing.
The Department of Agriculture and the FSAI have also declined to give further details.
