SMUGGLED cargo from China bound for the UK has been seized by border control officers.
The hundreds of boxes of animal-origin food were discovered after arriving into Teesport in Middlesbrough from Ningbo in China.
Officers from the UK Border Agency searched a container on the vessel MSC Camille, revealed almost 200 boxes of food that had not been declared.
The haul, hidden among legitimate cargo, including fin flavour noodles, granulated chicken, milk tea and sweets, was all bound for a warehouse in Gateshead.
Amanda Wren, senior port officer, said: "Preventing the illegal importation of products of animal origin is a key priority for the UK Border Agency, and this seizure reflects the controls we have in place.
"We carry out tough checks to protect our borders against the importation of illegal cargos such as this.
"Illegally imported foodstuffs carry a public health risk, and also increase the risk of major disease outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth."
She added: "We will continue to work with our partners to reduce the amount of products of animal origin that are smuggled across our borders."
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