(Trinidad Newsday) Two Guyanese nationals, aged 60 and 32, were at the weekend fined a total of TT$60,000 for being in possession of nine duffel bags containing a quantity of wild meat. The two men appeared before Comptroller of Customs Fitzroy John and were given until today to pay the fines.
According to reports, at about 8 am on Friday officers of the Customs Preventative Branch were on duty at Piarco International Airport in the baggage hall when they observed two Guyanese nationals with nine duffel bags.
The men were ordered to hand over the bags in which were found gutted and cleaned carcasses of wild hog (quenk), lappe (a type of forest rodent) and deer weighing over 700 pounds with a street value of TT$80,000.
The wild meat had not been declared, causing the Customs officers to notify Game Wardens from the Forestry Division. The nine duffel bags containing the seized meat were removed to a place for quarantine, and will be burnt as directed by the Comptroller of Customs.
The sale of wild meat is big business in Trinidad especially with the Christmas Season in full swing. Police sources said the illegal wild meat industry sees millions of dollars exchanging hands as one pound of wild meat (depending on the type of animal) could be sold for as high as several hundred dollars.
Sources revealed the two Guyanese nationals asked for time to pay the fines imposed on them, and were given until the end of today to do so.
Newsday understands that the bags of wild meat were brought into the country to be sold to locals for the Christmas Season.
