1,600 kg ‘dog meat’ smuggled from Rajasthan seized at Egmore station

According to Dr R Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Food Safety Department, the meat was smuggled into the city on Jodhpur – Mannargudi Express train. “We have seized 20 boxes that contained the unhygienic meat and destroyed them at a dump yard with the help of Chennai Corporation officials. The seized meat weighed around 1,600 kgs,” he said.

However, officials are baffled over the sender of the parcels. “We waited at Egmore railway station till 1 pm. But, none showed up to claim the boxes,” Kathiravan added. The shocking revelation came after some RPF personnel noticed foul smell emanating from the boxes. They immediately alerted the Food Safety Department.

Although sources suggest the seized meat is dog meat, the Food Safety Department officials are yet to ascertain. “The seized meat did not have heads. So, we sent them to Chennai Corporation’s Veterinary Department to determine the type of animal. But the Chennai Corporation officials could not confirm. We have sent two animals to Government Veterinary College. We  expect the result on Monday,” Kathiravan said. “Whatever the results, we must destroy them as the meat was transported in an unhygienic condition. The meat boxes would have travelled for three days,” another food safety official said. When asked about the prevalent smuggling of meat from Rajasthan into the city, the official said, “Meat smuggled from Rajasthan is available at very low cost. Some hotels buy the meat from touts.”

Last month, Food Safety officials seized nearly four tonnes of meat smuggled into the city at Chennai Central and from a house in Saidapet.