Three men arrested in St Catherine in illegal slaughter bust

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-08 | Original Article

Police personnel assigned to the Area Five Agricultural Protection Branch this afternoon swooped down on an illegal slaughtering operation in Angels, St Catherine and arrested three men.

 

The men were taken into custody on suspicion of operating without a food handler’s permit, butcher’s licence, and required animal tags.

 

The police report around 2:40 p.m., members of the team were on patrol when they observed smoke coming from a farm.

 

On checking, the police reportedly saw a group of shirtless men cutting up the carcasses of animals.

 

Further inspection revealed the remains of two cows, which had been slaughtered on the property.

 

When asked to produce a butcher’s licence, animal tags, and other documentation, the men reportedly said they had none.

 

The police then contacted the St Catherine Health Department.

 

Personnel from the department were deployed to verify the conditions under which the animals were being prepared for public consumption.

 

The carcasses were subsequently confiscated and condemned by the Health Department.

 

Investigations are ongoing.

 

- Rasbert Turner

 

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