Customs seize smuggled restaurant-bound meat produced 40 YEARS ago

The network would transport low-quality frozen pork, beef and chicken by trucks.

One customs officer said he "almost threw up" when inspecting storerooms filled with putrid meat.

The meat was allegedly treated with chemicals and bleached to appear fresh to potential buyers.

The underground network was turfed out by cops in 14 provinces across China.

Members from at least 21 smuggling gangs were detained over the seizures, which had a market value of around 3billion RMB (£305million).

The products were distributed around China by truck and were shipped over from Vietnam to Hong Kong.

Customs official spokesman Wang Huang said: "Most shocking of all was the discovery of meat products that had been produced 40 years ago in the 1970s."

Earlier this month fast food giant KFC was forced to deny a customer was served deep fried rat.

A photo emerged of a customer's meal appearing to have a tail.

(dailystar.co.uk)