A sickening haul of 18lbs of rotting maggot-infested bushmeat has been seized by airport customs police from the luggage of a Ghanaian traveller.
The meat, still with its hair and skin attached, was discovered wrapped in paper and aluminium foil in the passenger’s suitcase, say officials at Germany’s Hanover airport.
Evidence pictures taken of the meat after it arrived on Monday, 23rd October, show live maggots crawling all over it.
Most of the meat was so thoroughly rotten that officials could only say it apparently came from several different species.
Hanover Main Customs Office spokesperson Enrico Backer said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case.
“At Hanover Airport alone, my colleagues confiscated animal products with a total weight of over two tonnes [4,409 lbs] in over 500 cases last year.”
Airport officials destroyed the meat and have handed the case to veterinary authorities for further action.
The passenger will be fined for breaching food import laws and be forced to pay the disposal costs.
Bacher warned passengers not to ignore import laws saying: “If meat, milk, and products such as cheese or sausage products, are imported privately, these goods must meet the same veterinary requirements as commercial import shipments.
“This means that travellers carrying such goods must undergo vet checks at a border inspection post when entering the European Union.
“In addition, the products must be accompanied by specified health certificates and a valid accompanying document (common health entry document).
“If the goods do not meet the import requirements, the shipments will be rejected by customs. They may then have to be disposed of on-site.”
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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