Hong Kong’s food hygiene authorities have deployed drones to help dismantle an illegal slaughterhouse in Yuen Long, arresting its 67-year-old operator and seizing 7.4kg of goat meat and offal with an estimated market value of HK$3,000 (US$380).

Acting on a tip-off earlier this week, officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department identified a suspicious farm in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. The unlicensed premises were allegedly used to keep and slaughter goats, with the meat to be sold in Kam Tin markets.

Department officers said on Friday that drones assisted in surveillance and evidence collection before a joint operation with police the previous day.

Cheung Shui-kit, senior health inspector in environmental hygiene, said the facility lacked water supply, drainage and disinfection equipment.

“The goat farm in question covers an area of about 10,000 square metres, with very poor hygiene,” he said.

“The goats were slaughtered under trees. The health status and origin of the goats are unknown.”

The investigation revealed that the illegal slaughterhouse had begun operating recently, and the department moved swiftly to shut it down, Cheung said.