Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The authorities have intensified a crack down on smuggling of sacrificial meat immediately after the Eid Al Adha and all roads exiting from Makkah are under surveillance. Dispensing of sacrificial meat is common in Makkah during Haj, which is often smuggled to other cities, in general, and Jeddah, in particular, which is the prime destination.

The Jeddah Municipality has confiscated 413 carcasses on the first day of Eid, and it also seized 56 vehicles that were used for transportation of the sacrificial meat into the city. The officials also revealed that they have intensified inspection around restaurants and food outlets, kitchen service centers across the city. Twenty commercial kitchen services have been closed immediately after Eid for using smuggled and raw meat sourced from sacrificial sheep, according to officials.

In Makkah, municipal authorities erected 32 checkpoints to control the flow of live animal and as well sacrificed meat. The price of meat continues to fluctuate in local markets in Jeddah, Makkah and Taif after Haj.

The expatriate workers indulge in the smuggling of meat and sell it to restaurants and catering companies for profit, defeating the very purpose of the giving spirit of sacrificial rite of Haj.

The meat is shared, especially among the needy, and these expatriate workers obtain the meat by posing as needy persons. They then transport the carcass to the city and sell it at a price. They also collect the meat slaughtered illegally in unauthorized places around the city and pass it off to willing buyers, who get these meat on the cheap.

Some traders sell the unfit and unhealthy sheep for sacrificial purpose in fraudulent method, and then these expatriates pass off the unfit meat into the market. The Makkah Municipality has seized a pen in Kakiah area that had 500 sheep on Thursday and seized a truck on Saturday that was transporting sacrificial meat. They also confiscated 150 carcasses on the same day.

Local residents in the city are concerned and fear to purchase or consume meat after Eid, as it could be one of the raw and unhygienic smuggled meat.

There are 7 abattoirs being operated by Jeddah Municipality in different locations that work from early in the morning till night. There are 5 abattoirs operated by Makkah Municipality mainly in Al Maisam that has capacity of butchering 15,000 animal per hour.

Despite repeated advisories from authorities, many local residents and citizens opt for unauthorized butchers, instead of going to authorized abattoirs, to slaughter sheep in open spaces that attracts greedy people, who collect these meat and sell it.