Dozens of slimy — and invasive — creatures intercepted at Michigan airport, feds say

A package seized at a Michigan airport contained nearly 100 slimy creatures that can be harmful to humans, officials say.

It wasn’t the beef skin or the fresh peppers that caught the most attention from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials June 30 at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, but rather the 90 giant African land snails.

The slimy snails, officials said in a July 16 news release, ranged in length from 3 to 6 inches and were found alive. Officials said the passenger entered the United States through the Detroit airport and made no mention about the snails despite the “odd odor” coming from the package.

Agriculture specialists seized the snails, which are considered an invasive species that can “negatively impact our economy,” Acting Port Director John Nowak said in the release.

Giant African land snails can cause significant crop damage when they escape into the wild, and they can also pose a threat to humans, officials said.

“The snails can grow up to 8 inches and feed on a wide variety of plants, including many economically important crop plants, and cause structural damage by using stucco on houses to meet their calcium requirement for shell growth,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

It’s unclear if the passenger, who is from Ghana, will face any charges.

The snails, authorities said, were “humanely euthanized” to prevent them from entering the ecosystem.

This story was originally published July 16, 2024 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Dozens of slimy — and invasive — creatures intercepted at Michigan airport, feds say."