Ghanaian Man Detained At U.S. Aiport After Flying From Ghana With Giant Snails In His Luggage

A Ghanaian man was detained at an airport in the United States of America after six African giant snails were found in his luggage.

Officials of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus revealed Friday that the ‘dangerous’ cargo was confiscated from the traveller on 9th March 2023.

The offender was a traveller from the West African country of Ghana, seeking to enter the United States through the Detroit Airport in Michigan.

Following his detention, the Ghanaian revealed the snails were meant to be eaten.

Officials confiscated the cargo and released the man.

“It is not uncommon for travelers to bring food items from their native countries, which underscores the importance of the inspection process upon arrival to U.S. ports of entry,” Customs and Border Protection spokesman Steven Bansbach said.

“This allows CBP officers and agriculture specialists the opportunity to determine whether these goods are permissible or not, while mitigating the potential for public health or environmental issues.”

“Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists work diligently to target, detect, and intercept potential threats before they have a chance to do harm to U.S. interests,” Port Director Robert Larkin added.

According to the website 9and10news, “Giant African land snails are prohibited in Michigan and the rest of the United States. They eat at least 500 different types of plants, along with plaster and stucco on buildings. They grow as long as 8 inches (20 centimeters) and carry a parasite called the rat lungworm that can cause meningitis in humans. They also can produce up to 1,200 eggs a year,”