US Customs and Border Protection found six live giant African land snails inside of a suitcase as a traveler arrived at the Detroit Metro Airport recently — all of which were intended to be eaten.
The snails were inside of a suitcase as a t♑raveler arrived in the US from Ghana and wereও immediately intercepted by the CBP.
According to the CBP, they were all meant to be consumed, wh🤡ich can pose health risks to humans and the environment.
“Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists work diligently to target, detect, and intercept potential threats before they have a chance to do harm to US interests,” said Port Director Robert Larkin. “The discovery of this highly invasive pest truly benefits the health and well-being of the American people.”
Giant African snails can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans.
The snails also can eat at least 500 different types o🤪f plants, along with plaster and stucco, meaning they can cause significant damage to structures and ecosystems.
They are considered a prohibited pest in the US, t𓃲hough they are popular for consumption and even kept as pets in other countries.