Overview
- The Seprona unit of the Guardia Civil placed eight people aged 28–52 at the disposal of the Juzgados de Burgos on Wednesday as suspects in animal‑cruelty proceedings linked to arrivals at the Burgos slaughterhouse.
- Veterinary inspectors who alerted agents found multiple Friesian dairy cows extremely emaciated, wounded, in shock or unable to disembark, and in several cases vets ordered emergency euthanasia on arrival.
- Operation Leiteira, opened after a January 2026 referral, says the practice of sending debilitated cows to slaughter dates back at least to January 2024 and documents seven similar cases.
- Investigators say the scheme involved a network of producers, transporters, traders and entrepreneurs from Galicia, Cantabria, Bizkaia and Portugal and recorded use of prohibited handling methods plus numerous administrative breaches.
- The Guardia Civil has filed administrative actas for welfare and transport irregularities and the judicial process and further supply‑chain inquiries are ongoing, which could lead to criminal charges and tighter regional controls.