Police have seized 11kg of illegal bushmeat, including rat and antelope, during a raid at a property in southeast London. A 51-year-old man was arrested as part of a Metropolitan Police investigation into illegally imported meat that poses a potential food safety hazard.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), whose officers were present at the scene, stated that bushmeat is wild animal meat from species often found in tropical regions. The cane rat, indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, is considered a pest in areas where sugarcane and maize are cultivated.
David Toms-Sheridan, Head of Investigations (South of England and Wales) at the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), said: “The NFCU has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to identify those suspected of involvement in this criminality. This operation forms part of our ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public.”
The FSA warned that illegally imported meat bypasses rigorous safety checks required for food sold in the UK and can carry diseases and contaminants. Consumers are advised not to buy or eat such meat and to report concerns to local authorities.
