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Don't snail!
For the first time in the history of Düsseldorf customs, a trail of slime led officials to smuggled goods
Photo: Customs Dusseldorf
The trail of slime from a 20 centimeter giant snail led customs at Düsseldorf Airport to another 92 conspecifics.
The customs officers initially thought the enormously large snail was a toy – until it moved.
"Your trail led to a hole in a piece of luggage from Nigeria, from which the head of a second giant snail was already sticking out," said a customs spokesman in Düsseldorf on Friday.
The luggage had not been picked up.
The officials then found that there were five other pieces of luggage for the same recipient in the warehouse.
There were snails in there too.
Most of them are still alive.
Another suitcase of meat, in which hundreds of maggots swarmed
In addition, 28 kilos of smoked fish and meat were found, and another suitcase with meat, in which hundreds of maggots were already cavorting.
The immediate destruction of meat and fish was ordered.
The live snails were handed over to the animal rescue service of the city of Düsseldorf.
The luggage is addressed to an Afro shop in the Ruhr area.
The giant snails are not species-protected and were probably brought to Germany as a delicacy.
During transport, however, veterinary regulations and animal welfare were violated.
»Never in the history of Düsseldorf Customs has a trail of slime led us to contraband.
In this respect, this case is unique for us,” said Michael Walk, spokesman for the main customs office in Düsseldorf.
has/dpa
