GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a bag of invasive snails at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
The agency says 90 Giant African Land Snails were found June 30 after a passenger arriving from Ghana with “various fresh food items” was pulled aside for secondary inspection.
“During the baggage inspection, a tied, woven bag with an odd odor caught the attention of agriculture specialists,” the agency said in a statement. “Inside the bag were Giant African Land Snails ranging from 3 to 6 inches in length.”
The CBP said the passenger admitted to carrying other prohibited items, but did not mention the snails, which are considered an invasive species in the U.S.
“While these Giant African Land Snails were intended for consumption, they have a voracious appetite and cause major crop damage when they escape into the environment,” the statement read. “The snails can grow up to 8 inches and feed on a wide variety of plants, including many economically important crop plants, and cause structural damage by using stucco on houses to meet their calcium requirement for shell growth.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the snails were first introduced to Hawaii in 1936 and to the continental U.S. in 1966. The snail was twice established in southeastern Florida but has since been eradicated.
Besides being a threat to farmers, the snails also carry a parasite that is known to cause meningitis in humans, which can be deadly.
CBP encourages travelers to read up on current regulations before trying to bring food items into the United States to avoid potential penalties, seizures and even arrest.