Snails on a Plane! Giant African Land snails seized at Glasgow Airport
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Related articles
Trudging through airport security you can feel like you're progressing at a snail's pace.
Could it perhaps be poetic justice, therefore, that airport officials at Glasgow Airport were confronted by a suitcase full of the creatures when checking the luggage of a Nigerian man?
Border Force officials discovered the group of 36 giant African land snails when a man arrived from Amsterdam earlier this month.
The molluscs, which are not indigenous to Britain, averaged around 15cm in length, and have shells the size of a human fist.
Officers seized the snails, because they require a live import licence, which the traveller did not have.
Though the snails would be unlikely to survive the British winter they could spread diseases if released into the wild.
They were passed on to an animal rescue organisation and the man was warned about the restrictions.
The man attempting to bring the Giant African Land snails into Scotland said they were for food.
They are a popular delicacy and their base can be eaten in soup and a range of other dishes.
Murdo MacMillan, of the Border Force in Scotland, said: “The vigilance of our officers at Glasgow Airport has stopped these snails from entering Scotland, and possibly posing a risk to our native plants and wildlife.
“I would warn travellers not to attempt to bring live animals into the UK without a permit, or to bring in any products of animal origin which may contain pests or diseases.”
-
Serena Williams apologises after comment that rape victim 'shouldn't have put herself in that position'
-
Bankers could face jail after report urges the Government to introduce new criminal offence for reckless management
-
Feat of engineering: Incredible photographs show construction beneath New York's Second Avenue
-
World news in pictures
-
Google challenges US surveillance gagging order
- 1 Serena Williams apologises after comment that rape victim 'shouldn't have put herself in that position'
- 2 Disability campaigners celebrate 'victory' after government rethink over plans to make it more difficult to claim disability benefits
- 3 Bankers could face jail after report urges the Government to introduce new criminal offence for reckless management
- 4 Breaking the Silence: In the reality of occupation, there are no Palestinian civilians – only potential terrorists
- 5 We never knew Nigella Lawson - and we still don’t
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Win a Nook® Simple Touch eReader
Find out how Nook® is supporting the Evening Standard's Get Reading campaign - and your chance to win one.
Free reading festival for families
Follow The Standard's campaign to get London's children reading - and experience this unique event at Trafalgar Square on 13 July.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
FX Options Front Office Java / C# Developer
£500 - £600 per day: Orgtel: FX Options Front Office Java / C# Developer - Ba...
Project Manager - Front Office - Regulatory IT
£600 - £700 per day: Orgtel: Project Manager - Front Office - Regulatory IT C...
Lighting Design Engineer
£33000 - £35000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...
Are you an Primary NQT looking for your first role in Essex?
£21000 - £22000 per annum: Randstad Education Chelmsford: NQTs required now fo...
Day In a Page
First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention
Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title







Comments