THE increase in the use of the illegal animal growth promoter, clenbuterol or "angel dust", by beef farmers has led to a crackdown by a special team in the Department of Agriculture.
It has carried out a series of raids on premises nationwide.
Industry sources are linking the increase in the use of clenbuterol since Christmas to a fall of up to 20p per lb in the price of cattle. This is hitting specialist farmers, who prepare cattle for slaughter very hard.
The team is also looking at the possibility that some farmers may now be using natural growth promoters, banned since 1988 by the EU, to avoid detection. They are aware that drug pushers have developed "masking" drugs to frustrate existing controls.
The Department was confident that it had the problem under control when it introduced strict laws, new detection methods at meat plants and a "hit squad" of investigators at the Department.
However, a series of legal challenges by growth promoters has delayed the hearing of 163 cases. But the possibility of huge fines and prison sentences has had a major impact on the farming community, leading to a reduction in the number of positive samples uncovered by tests at factories.
Farmers are also aware of the possible violence linked with the illegal drug. Last year samples of contaminated meat were stolen from Department officials at gunpoint at a midlands meat plant.
In 1993 the so called "Enfer" test was introduced. This examines bile from the animal's stomach to detect illegal drugs and it successful. In its first fully year of operation, the test uncovered 1,636 positive samples out of 43,329 tests.
In 1994, test levels increased and of 97,273 animal samples, 4,650 tested positive, indicating a sharp drop in abuse levels.
The latest figures to the end of September indicated a further drop in usage as only 151 positive samples were found in the 46,436 samples examined.
Since the Department's special squad was established four years ago, it has developed considerable expertise and has collected a great deal of information on the "angel dust" network.
During one search 18 months ago it uncovered documentary evidence on a network of east coast clients. In follow up searches more clenbuterol was uncovered. The operation sent a shock wave throughout the network which has meant that most of those involved will not use it again.
Recently it has uncovered more such documentary evidence, this time at a Northern meat plant. The team believes this will help it crack down on users in the area and put at least one cross Border gang out of business.
In addition there has been a series of raids in Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary as well as intensified surveillance at meat plants and ports from which there are" live cattle exports.
It is believed that three gangs are responsible for the distribution of the drug. One of the most active gangs is based along the Border, the second operates in the midlands and the third from Munster.
The drugs are distributed through a network of contacts, middlemen who visit marts, meat plants and in some cases creameries drumming up demand for the drugs, which cost up to £30 for a treatment.
Administered in cattle food for 18 days before slaughter, clenbuterol stimulates growth and changes the way digested foods are converted into fat proteins.
It causes fat stored within the muscle to be burned off as energy, producing leaner meat. It prevents fat production while increasing conversion of protein into muscle tissue without more feeding.
The drugs seized by the authorities appear to come from mainland Europe, and it is thought that most of the clenbuterol used in the Republic comes from Belgium, Spain and from some former eastern bloc countries.
A Department spokesman said it was confident that only a "tiny minority" of farmers is involved in using clenbuterol and other illegal drugs but confirmed that there was increased activity because the slaughtering season was at its peak.