Police warn consumers after cow carcasses found in van in Manchester

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has issued an urgent public warning after police intercepted a van in Manchester carrying the carcasses of four large brown cows under suspicious circumstances on Sunday.

According to the JCF, the incident occurred between 5:30 and 6 a.m., when a team attached to the Manchester Police Division and members of the Area Two Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) stopped a Toyota Hiace van along the Porus main road, near Coffee Grove Street.

The driver fled the scene, leaving behind the carcasses with their heads still attached, the statement said.

The discovery has raised immediate concerns about the origin, handling, and safety of the meat.

It prompted the APB to warn Jamaicans to exercise extreme caution when purchasing meat and poultry products - especially those coming from western parishes that were severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“This incident underscores the potential for uninspected and improperly handled meat products to be distributed, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which can disrupt supply chains and compromise food safety standards,” the JCF said.

The police did not indicate whether the animals had died during the hurricane.

However, the warning comes amid growing concern about the large number of dead cattle reported across hard-hit parishes. A journalist recently questioned the authorities on efforts to deal with the issue.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Oral Pascoe, commanding officer of the APB, said his team has been working through the night to target those involved in illegal butchering and distribution of unsafe meat.