US Customs and Border Protection seized 90 giant African snails at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in June. Authorities detected an unusual scent emanating from a passenger’s luggage, arousing the suspicion of agricultural specialists. Upon disclosing the presence of fresh food items, the passenger, who had arrived from Ghana, was subjected to a thorough secondary inspection.
According to CNN, the passenger acknowledged possessing other prohibited goods, such as beef skin, referred to as wele, and fresh peppers, prior to unveiling the contents of the bag, yet failed to mention the inclusion of the giant snails.
The snail, measuring between 3 to 6 inches in length, was subsequently confiscated by customs agents. The US Department of Agriculture has highlighted the significant human health hazards they can present. These snails harbor the rat lungworm parasite, known to cause meningitis.
In the year 2023, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spotted a number of colossal African land snails. This discovery prompted a quarantine as authorities mobilized to address the perilous pests and safeguard the environment and public health from potential dangers.
Residents were cautioned about the detrimental effects these snails can have on plants and vegetation, as well as their capacity to transmit the rat lungworm parasite, which can result in meningitis in humans.
