Robert Iordan, 23, Florin Nutu, 35, and Voirel Manu, 38, all from Birmingham, are charged with conspiracy to steal in relation to the slaughter and illegal butchery of sheep and lambs between June 22 and October 7 this year.
In total, 12 reports of illegal butchery were made to Northamptonshire Police during this period, with the Operation Stock investigation launched in response.
Iordan and Nutu were arrested on the A14 in the early hours of Monday 7 October, following the discovery of nine illegally butchered sheep near Welton the previous evening.
Manu was arrested in Birmingham and all were charged on Tuesday 8 October.
Iordan and Nutu, both of Dunsink Road, Birmingham, and Manu, of no fixed address, have been remanded in custody ahead of a first appearance at Northampton Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 9 October).
Inspector Tracy Moore, who leads on rural crime for Northamptonshire Police, said: “We know these crimes caused a great deal of upset and anger to both the owners of the animals and to rural communities.
“The charging and remand of three people in relation to Operation Stock represents a huge amount of teamwork within our force and our neighbouring forces, and I’d like to thank our farming and rural communities again for the support they have offered throughout the investigation.”