Take action over a surge in illegal meat imports into the UK

It is understood that the actual number of catches is likely to be much higher as the Border Force figures will not include some seizures recorded by individual port health authorities in the UK.

It is believed that the increase in the number of seizures is not related to greater success in intercepting illegal imports.

“If we harvest tons of meat, you can imagine how much goes through because we don’t,” Dr. Hudson said.

In addition, the data shows an overall downward trend in the number of individual seizures, with over 5,500 in 2015/16 and under 2,000 in 2023/24, raising concerns about larger parties and more organized crime.

“It’s worrying,” added Dr Hudson, “if fewer people are caught, it means there is an organized nature, and we know there are organized gangs.”

Officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have reportedly held at least two meetings with representatives of the agricultural sector in recent weeks to discuss the issue.

A new system of post-Brexit border checks in Dover came into effect in April this year, but critics said they left open the possibility of more illegal meat entering the UK.

Instead of being checked in Dover itself, vehicles are being told to travel 22 miles to a border checkpoint in Sevington.

Parliament’s select committee on the environment was due to check whether the system was working before a general election was called earlier this year.

“Now that we’ve left the European Union, we have the potential for proper checks at the border to make sure biosecurity is protected,” Dr Hudson said.

In August, the Government announced £3.5 billion for Dover, but no additional funds for smaller ports have been confirmed.

One Labor MP with a port in their constituency told the BBC there was a general concern among colleagues that simply supporting Dover would lead to criminal activity moving elsewhere.

A government spokesman said the UK has never had an outbreak of African swine fever and we intend to make sure it stays that way.

“Strong import controls” have been put in place to manage the risks, including restrictions on personal pork imports introduced last month, they said.

They added that the government is working closely with port medical authorities and border forces “to ensure that our tight border controls are enforced”.