FOOT AND MOUTH - POLICE AND VETERINARY SERVICES OPERATION IN TSERI - ANIMALS INTENDED FOR SLAUGHTER IN DALI WERE FOUND HIDDEN IN ANOTHER LIVESTOCK UNIT -Filenews 22/3 by Angelos Nikolau
An investigation by the Veterinary Services and the Police is in full swing after a large number of sheep and goats were found in a livestock unit in Tseri, which were allegedly moved illegally to avoid killing.
According to information from Filenews, after receiving information, a team of the Veterinary Services, accompanied by a strong police force, went yesterday to a unit in Tseri owned by a livestock farmer in the area.
To ensure the process and prevent new movement, the Police guarded the unit throughout the night. With the first light of day, the veterinarians proceeded to sample the animals, while the Police investigators have already started taking statements from the owners and employees involved in the unit.
According to the data so far, the animals allegedly belong to a well-known animal trader, whose unit in Dali was restricted last week, with his animals being led to kill due to the detection of a virus. It seems, however, that a significant number of heads were secretly and illegally moved to Tseri, in order to save them from the planned process of eradicating the disease.
The most worrying element of the case is the risk of spreading the virus. The transfer of animals from an infected area like Dali to an area like Tseri, where no cases had been detected to date, is described by experts as a "health bomb". This illegal action undermines the state's efforts to contain the epidemic and puts the livestock of the entire Nicosia district at immediate risk.
The Veterinary Services and the Police have intensified their controls, having already identified four cases of illegal animal trafficking. For all cases, the procedures provided by law are followed, which include administrative fines and criminal prosecutions.
