US authorities are investigating a Miami man who smuggled in large African snails and made his religious followers drink large quantities of its mucus. Practitioners of the faith he presided over became ill after ingesting the bio-matter from the illegally smuggled snails.
Charles L. Stewart who practiced the African faith known as El Africano which is a blend of Yoruba and Catholic practices is now having his practices scrutinized.
The snails which Stewart illegally smuggled in can grow up to ten inches long and are an extreme nuisance to the local ecosystem. The snails can reproduce on their own, eat more than 500 plant species and are even known to eat plaster and stucco.
Some of the victims of the "healing" treatment began to complain of violent illnesses, lumps in their stomachs, and loss of weight. Stewart hasn't been charged yet however he could face numerous smuggling or customs violations in additional to civil penalties.
No comments:
Post a Comment