A man from Ghana flew to Michigan with six giant African land snails. However, the mollusks were seized during an agriculture inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Friday.
Giant African Land Snails Seized at Michigan Airport
The man from Ghana said the snails were for consumption. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Steven Bansbach said that it's not uncommon for travelers to bring food items from their native countries. Thus, the importance of inspection upon arrival to U.S. ports of entry.
Bansback added that the inspection process allows CBP officers and agriculture specialists to determine whether the goods carried by travelers are permissible while mitigating the potential for public health or environmental issues, 10 WBNS reported.
Unfortunately for the man, giant African land snails are considered invasive and not allowed in Michigan and other states in the U.S. The mollusks eat at least 500 different types of plants, including plaster and stucco on buildings. Additionally, state officials said they could damage food crops and natural resources.
Port Director Robert Larkin also said that the CBP officers and agriculture specialists work diligently to target, detect, and intercept potential threats before they harm the country's interest.
The man was released without further action.
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What Is a Giant African Land Snail?
Giant African land snails have a large appetite. They eat fruits, vegetables, or even bark. They can grow up to 8 inches and carry a parasite called rant lungworm that can cause meningitis in humans. They can also produce up to 1,200 eggs a year.
Giant African land snails are one of the world's largest land snails. They are about the size of an adult fist. When fully grown, their shells will have seven to nine whorls, with a long and greatly swollen body whorl.
Each snail contains both female and male reproductive organs. After a single mating, each snail can produce between 100 to 500 eggs and reproduce several more times, even without mating again. They can produce clutches of eggs every two to three months.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, giant African land snails are illegal to import or possess in the United States without a permit.
The giant African snail is currently found in Florida, Hawaii, and parts of the Caribbean. It was first found in southern Florida in the 1960s, and it took a decade and $1 million to eradicate them.
It was reintroduced in 2011, and eradication efforts were only completed in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Since they feed on over 500 types of plants, including peanuts, beans, peas, cucumbers, and melons, they are considered a threat to agriculture.
Although these species thrive in tropical and subtropical areas, they can also survive in cold conditions. However, they tend to be slow and sluggish during winter.
Giant African snails usually enter the country as hitchhikers on imported cargo or from individuals for classroom exhibits, pets, or food.
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