A man has been arrested after police seized 38kg of illegal frozen bushmeat including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, the food safety watchdog said.
Officers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Metropolitan police found the bushmeat at a site in Deptford, south-east London on December 5.
Bushmeat is from wild animals – often species found in tropical regions – that have been hunted.
A 57-year-old man was arrested and released under investigation, the FSA said.
The watchdog said the operation targeted illegally imported meat products which posed potential food safety risks to consumers.
Illegally imported meat bypasses safety and hygiene checks required for food sold in the UK and could carry diseases and contaminants that put consumers at risk, it added.
Some species, such as pangolins, are also critically endangered and all commercial trade of them is prohibited internationally.
The FSA said inquiries were ongoing.
Simon Ashwin, senior investigator at the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), said: “This operation forms part of the NFCU’s ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public.
“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.”
