Police probe illegal animal movements amid disease concerns
Authorities are investigating four cases of illegal animal movements involving a total of 283 goats, sheep and cattle, the Veterinary Services said on Sunday.
According to a statement, the cases involved 100 sheep and goats in Tseri, 30 in Potamia, 130 cattle in Livadia and 23 cattle in Geri.
The Veterinary Services said coordinated operations with police have been underway in recent days, using various tools and intelligence sources to identify illegal transport of animals in violation of relevant regulations.
Officials warned that animal movements and gatherings of livestock farmers are among the main factors contributing to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
The statement added that in some cases farmers have obstructed inspections, while discrepancies were found between the number of animals recorded in official systems and those present during culling procedures.
Authorities are examining whether the illegal transport or concealment of animals may have contributed to the spread of the virus.
The Veterinary Services also reminded the public that obstructing officials in the exercise of their duties constitutes an offence and may result in penalties, with offenders not eligible for compensation.