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03/20/2023

Officials at Detroit Airport Intercept Giant African Snails

They're considered a voracious invader

Most snails move slow, but these illicit gastropods crossed the Atlantic at hundreds of miles per hour.

Customs officials at Detroit Metropolitan Airport recently found six living snails inside a suitcase of a traveler who flew from Ghana, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Friday.

Agriculture specialists confirmed that the creatures with dark brown stripes were indeed giant African snails — a prohibited, invasive breed that the U.S. diligently has worked to eradicate from the country for more than 50 years. Over the years, the animal has stubbornly reappeared in the U.S. — partly because they are a local delicacy in West Africa. When cooked properly, these snails can serve as finger food or bar snacks.

Please select this link to read the complete article from NPR.

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