An NFCU investigation has led to a guilty plea in a major illegal smokies case involving unsafe meat entering the UK food supply chain.
A man described as a key figure in the illegal ‘smokies’ trade has pleaded guilty to food safety offences following an investigation by the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU).
Carmello Gale, 71, from Llandysul, Wales, admitted at Isleworth Crown Court to conspiring to place unsafe food - specifically smokie meat - on the market. The offence breaches the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and the Criminal Law Act 1977. Gale was granted bail and will be sentenced at a later date.
Producers create ‘smokies’ by singeing fleece from unskinned sheep carcasses, giving the meat a distinctive golden-brown appearance and smoky odour. The practice is illegal in the UK and typically takes place in unapproved premises that fail to meet strict hygiene and food safety standards.
The case forms part of broader NFCU enforcement activity targeting food fraud. In a separate investigation, the unit recently seized more than 67,000 bottles of suspected counterfeit wine and prosecco, valued at approximately £500,000. It also underscores ongoing risks to public health and the integrity of the food supply chain, particularly where illicit production methods bypass regulated controls.
Neil Castle, Deputy Head of the National Food Crime Unit, said:
Carmello Gale is considered a significant figure in the illegal smokies trade, with the investigation uncovering his involvement in the wide-scale distribution of smokies across the UK.
This guilty plea reflects the work of everyone involved in this investigation. I would like thank to our colleagues at Food Standards Scotland, Ceredigion County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, Southwark Council, Swansea Council, and Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit in South Wales, for their support.
The NFCU will not stop in its efforts to identify, investigate and bring to justice those who seek to exploit our food system.”
New Food has previously provided exclusive insight into how NFCU investigations progress from initial tip-offs through to criminal prosecutions.
The NFCU urges anyone who suspects food fraud to report it confidentially through Food Crime Confidential via the FSA website or by calling 0800 028 1180.
