Psst: want some cheap zebra meat?

Zebra, elephant, bear, crocodile and whale meat was in the 43 tonnes of wild meat seized during May in INTERPOL’s Operation Thunderstorm.

Australia and New Zealand were two of the 92 countries which participated in the international operation initiated by the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group.

The operation involved police, customs, border, environment, wildlife and forestry agencies and resulted in millions of dollars worth of seizures. Operation Thunderstorm was coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) in conjunction with the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), which includes the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, UNODC and the World Bank

The month-long operation in May yielded 1974 seizures and the identification of some 1400 suspects, triggering arrests and investigations worldwide. Further arrests and prosecutions are foreseen as ongoing investigations unfold.

Total worldwide seizures included:

• 43 tonnes of wild meat (including bear, elephant, crocodile, whale and zebra)
• 18 tonnes of eel meat
• 1.3 tonnes of raw and processed elephant ivory
• 27,000 reptiles (including 869 alligators/crocodiles, 9590 turtles and 10,000 snakes)
• Almost 4000 birds, including pelicans, ostriches, parrots and owls
• Several tonnes of wood and timber
• 48 live primates
• 14 big cats (tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar)
• The carcasses of seven bears, including two polar bears

Canadian authorities intercepted a container arriving from Asia which held the 18 tonnes of eel meat. Thought to be poached from Europe originally, the juvenile glass eels had been reared in Asia before being dispatched to North American markets for consumption.

Investigative crime intelligence was gathered ahead of the operation to help target specific hotspots for action, including land and airport border points and wildlife parks.

One man, who was arrested in Israel and awaits deportation to Thailand, was targeted after he posted a hunting photograph on social media. Multiple wildlife items were seized at his home, including fox, jackal and mongoose bodies, and then follow-up inquiries revealed that the suspect was also engaged in people smuggling and illegal employment.

Thunderstorm isn’t the only operation relevant to the food industry undertaken by INTERPOL. Operation OPSON is a Europol INTERPOL joint operation targeting fake and substandard food and beverages. The annual operation is supported by customs, police and national food regulatory bodies in addition to partners from the private sector. Since its first edition in 2011, the number of countries taking part in OPSON has grown every year, reflecting the growing commitment to tackle this issue.

OPSON VII

Rotten meat, chemically coloured tuna and fake baby milk powder were just a small sampling of the products seized as part of the latest OPSON investigation.

From December 2017 to March 2018, OPSON VII resulted in the total seizure of more than 3620 tonnes and 9.7 million litres of either counterfeit or substandard food and beverages. More than 41 000 checks were carried out at shops, markets, airports, seaports and industrial estates. Some 749 people were arrested or detained, with investigations continuing in many countries.

Fraudulent practices in the tuna fish industry

Illicit practices in the tuna fish industry included species substitution and fraudulently selling tuna intended for canning as fresh. In this case, the tuna intended for canning was illegally treated with chemical substances that altered its colour to give the misleading impression of its freshness. In total, more than 51 tonnes of tuna were seized and more than 380 samples were taken.

Close cooperation between Europol and the EU Commission coordinating the EU Food Fraud Network led to the implementation of the tuna-specific project. A comprehensive approach involving all stakeholders allowed the phenomenon to be tackled in an innovative and more effective manner via the simultaneous use of administrative and criminal enforcement tools.

Rotten meat in Belgium

Belgium closed a major meat processing plant in the country, and supermarkets have taken meat products off their shelves in a scandal over rotten meat. The incriminated company saw its licence revoked by the federal government, after spot checks revealed a potential health risk in two products: minced beef and oxtail. Officials found traces of so-called meat waste — pieces of the carcass intended for animal feed which are prohibited for human consumption.

Fake baby milk powder in Spain

Four people were arrested and a factory that packaged counterfeit baby milk mostly destined for China dismantled in Spain. Eight tonnes of the forged product were seized. The powder, bought in bulk in Poland for €1/kg and delivered to Barcelona, was not harmful but it lacked the nutrients needed by infants. It was also made in an environment that did not comply with food health and safety standards.

Perishable goods smuggling in France

In a joint operation, The French Gendarmerie, Customs, Police and Ministry of Agriculture seized in its overseas territories over 9.5 tonnes of smuggled perishable goods and 60 litres of fuel and raw material intended for illegal gold mining.

Top image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Farida