Police have raided a number of properties in Noord-Brabant and seized at least 89 puppies in a crack-down on illegal dog traders.

The investigation began after police received complaints about sick puppies sold by two traders in the province. The dogs are thought to have been brought into the Netherlands without proper paperwork and had been wrongly registered.

According to local broadcaster Omroep Brabant, the puppies arrived in Hapert in Brabant on Sunday night and originated in Hungary.

Police, animal welfare officers and tax officials raided two homes and three industrial buildings in the province. They seized computers, administration, knives, illegal medicines and a large quantity of cash. No arrests were made.

At one location, officials found 89 sick puppies which were too young to have been legally imported into the Netherlands, the broadcaster said. They have been taken away by vets. The dogs are not thought to have been vaccinated against rabies, which is compulsory for all imported dogs.