Customs officers at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport have made a disturbing discovery in a passenger's luggage. Six live giant African snails were found in the suitcase of a traveler who arrived in Detroit from Ghana, according to a news release from the US Customs and Border Protection on Friday.
Despite
their popularity in some parts of the world as a food delicacy and a pet, these
snails are considered "prohibited organisms" in the US, as they pose
a significant threat to the environment and can cause diseases in humans. The
Customs and Border Protection highlighted that their officers and agriculture
specialists work tirelessly to detect and intercept potential threats to the
US.
"These
snails are highly invasive pests that can cause serious harm to the health and
well-being of the American people," stated the US Customs and Border
Protection. Native to East Africa, the snails can grow up to 8-inches long and
consume at least 500 different types of plants, as well as the plaster and
stucco off houses as a source of calcium. The agency warns that their release
into the wild could lead to environmental damage.
This
discovery comes on the heels of a Florida county being put under quarantine
after officials discovered a fast-growing population of the snails in July. The
population is believed to have originated in the illegal pet trade. A previous
population of giant African snails found in Miami-Dade County took ten years
and millions of dollars to eradicate fully. With the snails being able to
produce up to 2,500 eggs per year, controlling the population remains a
difficult task.
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