A Chinese general administration of customs said customs officials seized frozen chicken wings, beef and pork, some more than 40 years old in raids across the country.
It said on Wednesday in Beijing that his officials raided 14 outlets to remove more than 100,000 metric tons of illegal frozen meat, worth 480 million dollars.
The administration said smugglers generally buy the meat at knockdown prices from foreign countries, deliver it to Hong Kong via refrigerated containers, and then move it into the mainland through Vietnam.
A custom expert also disclosed that the smugglers usually hired residents in border areas to move the products to Chinese border cities.
Zhang Tao, a Changsha customs official that went for the raid, said the smelly products fully filled an entire compartment.
“The stench from it is deadly; it is smelly, and I nearly threw up when I opened the storage door,” he said.
Tao said more than 130 suspects were arrested in raids on 14 provinces and regions.
He said the smuggled meat, not only poses serious health risks but also circumvents taxation.
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