Valpoi
Valpoi Police seized around 1,800 kg of meat worth about Rs 3.4 lakh at the Keri check post on the Goa-Karnataka border in Sattari taluka and booked a 25-year-old Karnataka resident.
According to police, a goods vehicle was stopped for routine inspection after officials noticed suspicious circumstances. During the inspection, police found a large quantity of meat being transported.
The driver allegedly failed to produce the required bill, invoice, authorisation letter or other documents needed to transport the meat. The entire consignment was seized and the driver was taken into custody.
Police said preliminary investigation showed that the accused is a Karnataka resident. They are now trying to establish the source of the meat, its intended destination in Goa and whether others were involved in its transportation.
Samples of the seized meat are likely to be sent for laboratory analysis to determine its type and quality, check storage conditions and establish whether food safety norms were followed during transportation.
Valpoi Police have registered a case and are investigating the source of the meat, suppliers, intended buyers, transportation chain, financial transactions and possible involvement of other individuals or organisations.
The meat and the vehicle have been taken into police custody and further investigation is underway.
The Keri check post is an important route for the movement of goods between Goa and Karnataka. Authorities have stepped up checks in recent months against illegal meat transportation, tax evasion, food safety violations and the movement of goods without proper documents.
Transport permits, veterinary health certificates, food safety records, invoices and details of the consignment’s source are among the documents generally required for transporting meat. Failure to produce them can attract action under various laws.
