The Revenue Commissioners are expected to ask the Garda's Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to examine the earnings of people involved in smuggling the infected livestock that brought foot-and-mouth to the Republic.
The investigation into the earnings will follow the Garda operation tracing the source and whereabouts of all livestock brought into the State by the Co Offaly cattle dealer, Mr John Walsh.
It is also likely the CAB will examine the activities of a number of people living in the Border area who are suspected of being involved in the smuggling.
CAB will be able to examine bank accounts, records of financial transactions and require people to reveal details of their assets.
The original outbreak of foot-and-mouth a month ago was attributed to a shipment of more than 270 sheep Mr Walsh bought at Carlisle mart in Cumbria.
Some 180 of these sheep passed through the farm in Meigh, south Armagh, on their way to slaughter at Athleague, Co Roscommon.
The Garda's National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) has been investigating the activities of Mr Walsh and his associates.
According to senior Garda sources, this investigation is continuing. When it is completed, details will be passed to CAB which will then carry out a further investigation. Two detectives from the NBCI interviewed Mr Walsh three weeks ago as part of their investigations. He volunteered to meet the gardai, who travelled to Cumbria to speak to him.
However, the legislation that established the CAB does not require there be a criminal conviction for the State to be able to seize assets. CAB can seize property or earnings if there is a suspicion these are the proceeds of criminal activity.
At least two CAB investigations have already touched on the activities of major smugglers in the Border area. One investigation into the activities of a company based in Wexford, which was importing and selling illegal cattle growth promoters, is understood to have revealed connections to two major smugglers in south Armagh. These two men shared a joint bank account in Texas through which millions of pounds passed.
CAB is also investigating a huge money-laundering operation based in a bureau de change in the Dundalk-Newry area. Detectives discovered that more than £100 million was laundered, much of the money raised through smuggling by people based in the Border area.
A Garda spokeswoman said yesterday: "A Garda investigation is being carried out in which a number of sections may have an input. If it's necessary to bring in the CAB they will be brought in." Originally from Co Wicklow, Mr Walsh (47), had been recently living in the midlands, where he ran a farm.