By Wendy Anders

Costa Rican border police have had their hands full trying to stop the flow of sickly equines near the northern border with Nicaragua.

Apparently the animals were being smuggled into Costa Rica for sale under the guise of beef, said the Public Security Ministry.

So far in February, officials report having confiscated 41 animals in three different captures. The horses, plus one donkey, were in poor shape with skin ulcers, bites, and ticks, and were notably malnourished.

According to border police director, Allan Obando Flores, the animals were destined for human consumption in Costa Rica to be sold by “unscrupulous” meat sellers.

Police identified the origin of the animals by the type of brand used on their hides, said Obando.

Safety officials notified the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) post in Los Chiles who took the animals into their care.

When detected by police, the horse smugglers tried to flee, some successfully. One man who was detected near the border and fled into the bushes, a man named Calvo, was later apprehended in Santa Cecilia de Los Chiles with another load of horses. Calvo, from the southern town of Palmar Norte de Osa, Puntarenas, had an active arrest warrant, said police.