On Friday 5 December, NFCU officers, together with the Metropolitan police, seized 38kg of frozen bushmeat species, including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, in Deptford, London.
Bushmeat is wild animal meat that has been hunted, often from species found in tropical regions.
A 57-year-old male has been arrested and released under investigation.
The operation targeted illegally imported meat products which pose potential food safety risks to consumers. Such products bypass mandatory UK safety and hygiene checks and can carry dangerous diseases and contaminants.
Animals such as pangolins are also a critically endangered species, with all commercial trade prohibited internationally.
“This operation forms part of the NFCU’s ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public,” said Simon Ashwin, senior investigator at the NFCU.
“The FSA advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks. If you have concerns about products being sold, contact your local authority.
“We remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public.”
Enquiries into this investigation are ongoing.
‘Alarming amounts’ of illegal meat
This operation follows a report published in September which flagged “alarming” levels of meat and dairy products being illegal imported into Great Britain for both personal and public consumption.
The report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee says illegal meat imports have been on the up for several years, with no effective deterrent to meat smuggling in place.
In March, the Committee visited the Port of Dover and witnessed a van being searched with meat found packaged in plastic bags and newspaper, stowed in cardboard boxes and in a defrosted chest freezer. The Committee was greatly concerned to see the inadequate conditions the Border Force facilities at the Port with limited ability to decontaminate inspection areas and no dedicated handwashing facilities.
Workers from Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) told the Committee that, “there are literally hundreds of targeted vehicles driving straight past as we do not have the resources to stop and search”.
