Criminal network: Spanish police discover horror slaughterhouse!

Criminal network: Spanish police discover horror slaughterhouse!

Spanish police have dismantled a criminal network linked to illegal slaughterhouses that supplied tainted meat to Asian restaurants in Madrid. According to Kosmo, sick and malnourished sheep and goats ended up in the kitchens of at least nine restaurants and private households in the greater Madrid area. Five people were arrested during the raid and twelve other suspects are being investigated.

During searches in the illegal slaughterhouses, officials discovered over 200 sick and dying animals that were being kept in catastrophic hygienic conditions. The environment was characterized by dirt, severed animal heads and rats, underlining the cruel conditions. More than 350 animals had to be euthanized due to their poor health. Four Asian restaurants were closed as a precautionary measure, while the Guardia Civil's environmental protection department (Seprona) also raided unregistered livestock farms, slaughterhouses and industrial warehouses in the provinces of Avila, Toledo and Madrid.

Serious accusations and consequences

The defendants face serious charges, including animal cruelty, endangering public health, forgery, membership in a criminal organization and money laundering. These incidents shed light on the serious problems in the Spanish meat sector, which have long been criticized by animal rights activists and the media.

In a further context, the Tagesschau report on massive grievances in a Spanish breeding farm south of Burgos. The conditions there are alarming: pictures show dead pigs, rats, maggots and dying animals. Several thousand animals are kept under maintenance on this farm. Dead animals are dumped in the adjacent forest, which attracts vultures.

The animal protection organization Greenpeace has described meat production in Spain as uncontrolled industrial. The former Spanish Minister for Consumer Protection, Alberto Garzón, was critical of the quality of Spanish pork, which also has an impact on the German market. The pig population in Germany has fallen by 25%, while in Spain it has increased by 35%.

Undercover investigations and consumer deception

The documents show that until 2022, meat from the establishment in question was supplied to the food manufacturer Campofrio, which now states that it no longer works with this establishment. Nevertheless, reports about possible further deliveries from the meat producer's point of view are contradictory. Greenpeace and other animal protection organizations criticize the high use of medication in livestock farming and the associated health risks for consumers.

Overall, the investigations and reports show that the abuses in meat production in Spain have a significant impact on public health and animal welfare law. Consumers need to be aware of the serious problems in animal food production, especially when imported meat ends up on their plate.