A consignment of anabolic steroids have been seized in Northern Ireland during a probe into a cross-Border cattle smuggling scam.
The find was the result of an exhaustive investigation into the movement of animals across the border.
The cache of drugs was part of 110 kilos of evidence uncovered by police from a cattle farm in Mid-Ulster.
It is believed officials plan to question more than 20 people about the find.
Mr Michael Steele, who heads a special investigation unit set up by the Department of Agriculture, described the discovery as "significant".
"They were anabolic steroids, cocktails of what looked to be four or five substances have been identified by the laboratory so far.
"These are significant because each of the components are in small enough quantities that makes them quite difficult individually to identify," he said.
The Department of Agriculture and the North's Veterinary Service central enforcement team has been working together, backed up by gardaí and the PSNI.
It is believed the PSNI came across the scam when following the trail of cattle stolen before Christmas from the Republic.
Alongside the growth promoter, the investigating teams found tags used in switching the identities of cattle to be sold in Northern Ireland.
PA
