Four arrested as tonnes of illegal meat seized in Dudley

Four men were arrested after police seized about four and a quarter tonnes of illegal meat during a raid on an unapproved meat cutting plant in Dudley. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and its National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) are working with local authorities to trace the illegal supply chain and remove product from shelves. Will Simpson, Regional Intelligence Officer at the FSA’s NFCU, said the operation forms part of ongoing work to disrupt the trade, and a criminal investigation has been launched. The joint effort involved the NFCU, West Midlands Police, HMRC, and representatives from the Home Office. The FSA said illegal meat bypasses required UK safety and hygiene checks.