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PEORIA, Ill. – Authorities say the IRS and other federal agencies are taking part in what Caterpillar says is the execution of a search warrant at three of its central Illinois facilities.

Sharon Paul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office says the agencies involved in the raids Thursday are: the IRS’s criminal investigation unit; the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s office of inspector general.

She says the “law enforcement activity is at Caterpillar facilities in Peoria, East Peoria and Morton.” She declined to commen further.

Caterpillar says it believes that a search warrant executed by federal authorities on Thursday at its facilities concerns “export filings” related to its Switzerland subsidiary CSARL.

In a statement Thursday after federal agents appeared at its Peoria, Illinois, headquarters and other Illinois facilities, Caterpillar says the issue it concerns was first disclosed in a 2015 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

At that time, the Caterpillar said the SEC had notified the manufacturer that it was conducting an informal investigation relting to CSARL, and asked the company to preserve relevant documents.

Caterpillar spokeswoman Corrie Heck Scott said in an email that the company is cooperating with law enforcement.

Caterpillar is one of the biggest farming construction equipment manufacturers in the world.

1/2 Statement from @CaterpillarInc on law enforcement at local sites:

"Law enforcement is present in various Peoria-area Caterpillar … — Chris Kaergard (@ChrisKaergard) March 2, 2017

2/2 (cont'd) "…facilities executing a search warrant. Caterpillar is cooperating." — Chris Kaergard (@ChrisKaergard) March 2, 2017

@janewells Inside the $CAT Peoria office cafeteria employees from tax & accounting depts. have been sequestered — the bank (@sellmeonu) March 2, 2017