Passenger attempts to sneak 90 invasive snails into Detroit Metro Airport from Ghana

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations discovered quite the slimy surprise recently at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).

A passenger arriving from Ghana on June 15 had attempted to sneak in 90 Giant African Land Snails, an invasive species in the U.S., among other prohibited food items.

While the passenger declared items such as beef skin and fresh peppers, there was no mention of the massive mollusks, the CBP said in a news release. But during the baggage inspection, agriculture specialists noticed a tied, woven bag with an odd odor. Upon opening the bag, they found the giant snails, all ranging from 3-6 inches in length.

“These snails are an invasive species that could negatively impact our economy,” said Acting Port Director John Nowak in a release. “Our agriculture specialists are always keeping a watchful eye out for harmful plants, animals and insects.”

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While this collection of creatures was intended for consumption, Giant African Land Snails, which can grow up to 8 inches long, have a voracious appetite of their own, causing major damage to economically important crops and posing a public health threat to humans when they escape. They are also known to cause structural damage by consuming stucco on homes to meet their calcium requirement for shell growth.

The CBP subsequently seized the snails from the passenger.

The CBP reminds passengers to learn more about current regulations before attempting to bring food items into the United States to avoid penalties, seizures, and even arrest.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Passenger attempts to sneak 90 invasive snails into Detroit Metro Airport from Ghana