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Man arrested after frozen pangolins, rats and porcupines seized in London
Authorities seized 38kg of illegal bushmeat including critically endangered pangolins that bypassed UK safety checks, posing potential health risks to consumers, the Food Standards Agency said.
- On December 5, officers from the Food Standards Agency and the Metropolitan Police seized 38kg of illegally imported frozen bushmeat, including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, at a Deptford site.
- The FSA warned about both health and legal risks as illegally imported meat bypasses UK safety and hygiene checks and some seized pangolins are critically endangered, with international prohibition on commercial trade.
- A 57-year-old man was arrested in connection with the seizure and has been released under investigation, while Simon Ashwin, senior investigator at the FSA's National Food Crime Unit, said the operation disrupts illegal meat trade.
- The Food Standards Agency said inquiries are ongoing, remains vigilant, and advised consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, urging concerns to be reported to their local authority.
- The mixed haul included species not native to the UK, highlighting cross-border illegal imports that intersect conservation rules and food-safety risks in Deptford, south east London.
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Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
L 27%
C 73%
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