Authorities seize 100,000 tons of smuggled meat, some up to 40 years old

100,000 tons of smuggled frozen chicken wings, beef and pork with packing dates reaching as far back as the 1970s has been seized in a customs operation spanning 14 provinces, The New York Times reported, citing state media. While the origin of the meat was unclear, a Xinhua report claimed it was typically shipped to Hong Kong, then taken to Vietnam, whence it was smuggled into China undeclared. To hold down costs, the illegal meats were transported in ordinary, non-refrigerated trucks on journeys that could exceed 12 hours before being refrozen and distributed to retailers, supermarkets and restaurants, as well as to online sales outfits claiming to sell imported American beef.