Colombia cracks down on illegal meat trade with arrests and seizures

Colombian authorities uncovered a criminal network that purchased, slaughtered and marketed horse meat unfit for human consumption, falsely labeling it as beef in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area. Nine individuals, including Sergio Leonardo Ortiz Soto and others, were charged with organized crime, food fraud, environmental damage and animal cruelty. Five of the suspects accepted the charges and face detention.

In a separate enforcement action, police in Neiva seized 280 kilograms of pork being transported without the required documentation. The meat, valued at roughly 2.4 million Colombian pesos, was destroyed after being found to violate sanitary regulations. Local police officials said inspections will continue to protect public health and the livestock supply chain.