NFCU seizes illegal bushmeat in London as one man arrested

Frozen pangolin that was seized by the FSA's National Food Crime Unit and Metropolitan Police. Credit: FSA

A National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) operation has led to the seizure of 38kg of illegal frozen bushmeat and the arrest of a 57-year-old man in Deptford, south-east London.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed that NFCU officers, working with the Metropolitan Police, carried out the enforcement action on Friday 5 December as part of efforts to prevent unsafe, unregulated meat entering the UK food chain.

The haul included pangolins, cane rats and porcupines – species often hunted in tropical regions, with pangolins critically endangered and banned from international trade. Illegally imported meat bypasses UK hygiene controls and may carry contaminants or disease risks, posing a serious threat to consumer safety and undermining the integrity of the UK supply chain.

The man was released under investigation and enquiries continue.

Preventing unsafe products from reaching the public

Commenting on the operation, Simon Ashwin, Senior Investigator at the 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.”

As Professor Chris Elliott highlights in his recent New Food analysis New powers and a new era: reshaping the fight against food crime, the NFCU’s latest annual report represents a “watershed moment” for UK food protection, underscoring the Unit’s growing operational strength and vital role in tackling increasingly sophisticated threats across the supply chain.

The Deptford discovery therefore sits within a broader national push to curb food fraud and strengthen the resilience of the UK’s food system.