IRITTY: Meat is being imported in the state from Karnataka amid the ban imposed due to confirmation of African swine fever in domestic pigs in North-Eastern states of India including Bihar. The Animal Husbandry department had seized the pork which was smuggled across the border in Koottupuzha.

The Pig Farmers' Association caught the group which smuggles slaughtered pigs from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka and then to Kerala. The association handed them over to the Animal Husbandry Department. Pork was being smuggled from Karnataka to Kerala via Koottupuzha. Due to the outbreak of the disease, the government had directed the animal husbandry department to stop import of pigs from Karnataka to Kerala. The incident occurred while unloading the pork at a meat shop in Koottupuzha. Then the Animal Husbandry authorities arrived and shifted the vehicle to the check post. Police from Iritty also reached the spot. They said that the meat was to be taken to several meat shops. The meat which is given at a rate of Rs 150 is sold for Rs 300 to the customers.

Pig Farmers' association members Jose Mathew, Sanil Xavier, E S Vinod, Binoy, Raju Kelakam and others captured the vehicle and handed them over to the authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department. They said that inspections will be conducted every day to prevent illegal pig trafficking.