Suspected fraud in animal records: dozens of sheep declared dead in one county discovered alive in another
The veterinary health authority identified a case of possible deception in the national animal monitoring register after 75 sheep reported as killed in Tulcea were found alive in Cluj.
Suspected fraud in animal records: dozens of sheep declared dead in one county discovered alive in another
An inspection operation conducted by ANSVSA uncovered at least an unusual situation within the national animal monitoring register. 75 head of sheep, entered in records as slaughtered in the Tulcea area, were found alive in Cluj county.
Specialists from the veterinary health institution identified a huge discrepancy between what was written in the documents and the reality on the ground. The animals were registered as dead in official records from a locality in Dobruja, but were discovered in good condition at an address in Transylvania.
This incident calls into question the correctness of the monitoring system and raises the hypothesis of illicit manoeuvres. There is suspicion that this could involve a scheme to illegally obtain European funds or money laundering through illegal animal trade.
Inspectors have launched a detailed investigation to determine how information in the database was altered and who is responsible for this operation. An investigation is also underway to establish whether the situation is repeated in other areas of the country.
The animal tracking register was created to guarantee food safety, prevent epidemics and eliminate crimes in the field. However, the present case demonstrates that the mechanism has serious gaps that can be exploited by criminals.
According to information published by Digi24.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)