90 Giant African Land Snails Intercepted at Detroit Metro Airport After Officers Notice Strange Smell
(CBS DETROIT) — Customs agents say they seized 90 live snails from luggage at Detroit airport last month.
The giant African land snails were discovered after a traveller who arrived from Ghana on June 30 was referred for secondary screening for declaring that his luggage contained fresh food.
During the inspection, a strange odor was discovered in a closed woven bag. Agricultural specialists examined the inside of the bag and found snails, which are between 7.5 and 15 cm long, according to a statement from customs officials.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Before looking inside the bag, officers said the traveler began declaring other items, including beef hide and fresh peppers, but they never mentioned the presence of snails.
“These snails are an invasive species that could negatively impact our economy,” said Acting Port Director John Nowak. “Our agriculture specialists are always closely monitoring the plant, animal and insect pests.”
The snails were intended for consumption, but they are an invasive species because they eat a variety of plants when they enter the environment and can “cause structural damage by using stucco on homes to meet their calcium needs for shell growth,” according to customs officials.
In the first quarter of 2024, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents intercepted 13 firearms at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, 13 firearms intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Airportwhich represents a decrease compared to the previous year.
While firearms and water bottles are the most commonly stopped items at TSA checkpoints, Officers encounter a variety of strange objects every day, including machetes, a bag of snakes,including machetes, a bag of snakes and even a kitchen sink.
Live snails were also present intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in March 2023; this traveler was also arriving from Ghana. In October 2023, an invasive species Egyptian Locusts Seized at Port of Detroit after being found in a shipment from Italy.
