400 kilos of ‘hot meat’ seized in Tondo

Police seized some 400 kilos of suspected “double-dead” meat from illegal meat traders in Tondo, Manila past midnight yesterday.

Personnel from the Manila City Hall’s Veterinary Office sought police assistance following reports of the rampant transport of suspected “hot meat” in Tondo as the district prepares for its feast of the Sto. Niño on Sunday, according to Moriones police station chief Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino.

“Unscrupulous meat traders take advantage of the huge demand for meat products during fiestas. People sometimes fail to notice that what they are buying are double-dead meat,” Espino told The STAR.

He said the suspected hot meat was intercepted along Wagas and Lakandula streets while being transported on board a Mitsubishi L-300 van. “Its occupants immediately scampered after seeing the approaching policemen leaving their vehicle behind,” Espino said, adding the pork meat did not pass veterinary inspection.

Police noted that Tondo is the favorite dumping ground of unscrupulous meat traders for their illegally butchered pigs and cattles whose meat did not pass veterinary inspection but finds its way to the local markets.

Several days before Christmas, Espino’s men also intercepted some 1,500 kilos of illegally slaughtered cows along Tahimik street in Tondo.

Four men, suspected as cattle rustlers, were arrested when they failed to show documents to cover the slaughter and transport of the beef.

Espino said the arrested suspects may be part of the group that steals cattles from Bulacan and Pampanga and butcher them illegally in hidden places in Manila. “Meat that did not pass veterinary inspection may be double-dead and unfit for human consumption,” he said.

Yesterday’s seized hot meat was turned over to the City Veterinary Board for disposal.