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Police Arrest Two For Selling Horse Meat

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Oct 7, 2009 12:41 pm US/Eastern

Police Arrest Two For Selling Horse Meat

Investigators Believe That This Is An Isolated Incident

Probably Not Connected To The Recent Horse Slaughter Cases
Reporting
Lisa Cilli
E-mail
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ― A South Florida ranch owner and one of his employees have been arrested for illegally selling horse meat for human consumption.

Miami-Dade police charged Roberto Chavez, 53, and Ricardo Olivarez, 45, on Tuesday. Both are charged with doing business without a license and Chavez faces an additional charge of violation of probation.

According to police, investigators received a tip that Chavez and Olivarez were selling horse meat from a ranch owned by Chavez, located at 19890 SW 180th Street.

An undercover detective went to the ranch and purchased 10 pounds of suspected horse meat for $50.00. Investigators sent the meat to the USDA which tested it and determined the meat did indeed come from a horse. Investigators returned to the ranch Tuesday afternoon and arrested Chavez and Olivarez.

Investigators believe that this is an isolated incident and that Chavez and Olivarez were not involved in any prior reported case of slaughtered horses.

Since January, the remains of at least 18 horses have been found in Miami-Dade County. Another two were found in Broward County. Police have made two separate arrests in those cases and charged the suspects with burglary and cruelty to animals. Two other suspects remain on the loose.

Authorities believe the horses were butchered for their meat which is then sold on the black market. The sale of horse meat is illegal in the U.S.

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