"Our results estimate that around 270 tonnes of potentially contaminated illegal bushmeat is passing unchecked through a single European airport per year, posing a huge potential risk to public health," says lead author Dr Anne-Lise Chaber of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo were identified as the main sources of bushmeat.

"Our results show that this is a lucrative, organised trade feeding into a luxury market; a 4kg monkey will cost around €100 in France, compared with just €5 in Cameroon," said co-author Dr Marcus Rowcliffe of ZSL.

"Importing bushmeat is relatively easy as customs officials are given no financial incentives to uncover illegal meat imports, compared with the bonuses they're awarded for drug and counterfeit seizures."

"Also, penalties are very low for people caught carrying illegal meat."

The illegal trade of such large quantities of bushmeat also raises serious questions about the importation of pathogens into Europe.

"Surveillance methods need to be more robust and deterrents more severe if we're to have any chance of halting this illegal trade," said co-author Dr Andrew Cunningham of ZSL.

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