Three men were arrested over the weekend after they were found with agouti, tattoo, wild hog, lappe and deer carcasses on a fishing vessel. 

 Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, in a Facebook post, said the animals were most likely hunted in South America. 

“As I see wild meat sales being advertised, be on your alert for similarities in appearance and condition to what is being seized by law enforcement. Roasted, cut-up, seasoned or prepared food involving wild meat should be examined closely. Illegally imported wild meat could be passed off as local wild meat,” Rambharat said  

“In October 2018 law enforcement seized thousands of pounds of decaying wild meat from Venezuela. It included over 100s of agouti, and large amounts of deer, wildhog, lappe and tattoo. Consumers of wild meat are reminded to be on the lookout for meat being brought into the country illegally.  

“This meat may be harmful for human consumption. Illegal meat is treated with a chemical to mask the scent of decay and is sold frozen or thawed out. Decaying meat, meat washed in unhygienic river water, and meat not kept at the right temperature can sicken and possibly kill you. Be on your guard,” he noted.