Estimates show that about 11,600 tons of illegal bush meat were smuggled into Britain during 2003, mostly through luggage. The number of seizures of such illegal imports has more than doubled from 7,819 tons in the year ending April 2003 to 15,838 tons for the year ending April 2004. However, that represents less than 1% of the government’s estimate of the illegal meat trade.

The extent of the illegal trade in meat from Africa, Asia and the Middle East is revealed in an internal British government report, which says that the problem is far worse than previously had been thought.

The total amount of illegal meat entering Great Britain each year is estimated on average to be 11,687 tons. The top five contributors to the total flow of illegal meat are Eastern Asia, Near and Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southern Africa, and Western Africa.