The quarantine division within the ministry of agriculture and livestock will deploy a staff to inspect the giant African snails reportedly found in Auki, Malaita province last week.
This was in response to reports being published in this paper last week following the discovery of African giant snails in Auki.
Malaita’s chief agriculture officer John Faleka confirmed to the Solomon Star last week the snails have been found in large numbers at Sikitae Marine police headquarters in Auki.
The snails were believed to have been brought in there by some machineries from Honiara early this year.
A spokes-lady from Quarantine yesterday said they were alerted about the report after one of their staff relayed to them following the publication of the news.
Since then they have made contact with their agriculture office in Auki to confirm the presence of the snails.
The department is now trying to secure funds to send someone across to Auki to investigate and presence of these snails.
Meanwhile the spokes lady thanked the community in Auki which reported the discovery of snails there.
The public in and around Auki have been urged to report to the agriculture any sightings of the snails in their area.
By DENVER NEWTER