A south London crime ring has been convicted after being caught red-handed trying to peddle animal waste to unsuspecting shoppers.
Nearly two tonnes of animal by-products, including whole chickens, processed sheep’s heads, known as “smokies,” and lamb’s testicles, were uncovered by Southwark Council at a property in Walworth in September 2020.
The council’s food safety team found the horrid items stored at the unregistered premises in Laugan Walk in Walworth by Southwark Council, after spending seven months trying to gain access to the property.
An investigation was first launched in March 2020 after the council’s food safety team received a report from the National Food Crime Unit about suspicious activity near East Street in Walworth.
Council officers managed to gain access in September 2020 and inside found a door obscured by stacked boxes.
The hidden route led them to an “illegal covert cutting shop” where workers were found cutting, skinning, washing, and portioning tainted raw poultry they intended to sell.
The premises were filthy, lacking hot water and proper hygiene facilities, Southwark Council said.
The products which had originally been intended for disposal or pet food were instead being fraudulently reintroduced into the human food supply chain.
Labels on the lamb’s testicles and on some beef burgers were traced to a company called Keepak, while the labels found on the chicken were traced to a company called 2 Sisters Food Group or 2SFG.
Both companies have since confirmed that the meat or poultry found was categorised as category 3 animal by-product, which often includes carcasses, body parts, skin, hooves and feathers, according to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Council officers soon determined that the premises were controlled by Ali Afzal, Azal Irshad, and a third person called Arshad Akhtar. Mr Akhtar has since died.
Southwark Council also referred the case to the NFCU, who in turn traced the supply of the animal by-products to Fears Animal Products Ltd, led by director Anthony Fear and manager Mark Hooper.
Trading standards officers from Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay, seized evidence showing that Fears Animal Products Ltd had been contracted by both Kepak and 2SFG to collect animal by-products and transport them to a pet food producer called Saria.
Due to the scale of the operation and the health risks posed, all meat found at the premises was seized on-site and destroyed.
Following a 12-week trial at Inner London Crown Court, Anthony Fear and Fears Animal Products Limited were found guilty of conspiring to divert meat not fit for human consumption into the human food chain on March 26.
Mark Hooper and Azar Irshad also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy while Azar Irshad and Ali Afzal entered guilty pleas to regulatory matters.
Afzal, who rented the premises to Akhtar and Irshad, was convicted of breaching food hygiene and safety regulations.
Meanwhile, Irshad was found guilty of multiple violations, including disregarding food hygiene procedures and operating in filthy, unsafe conditions without a hot water supply.
He was also convicted of selling unfit food, such as expired beef burgers and smokies.
The group are due to be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court in the coming weeks.
Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, said: “These violations highlight the blatant disregard for food safety laws that protect public health - all for profit. Consumers who unknowingly purchase and consume these products are exposed to potential health hazards.
"We will not tolerate such reckless and deceitful behaviour and, no matter how long it takes, we will use all our available powers to bring criminals to justice.
“Together with the NFCU, our officers worked relentlessly to uncover the truth and ensure those responsible are made to pay for their crimes. We hope sentencing reflects the gravity of the crimes committed.”
