In a report by TMZ, the rapper was apprehended by the U.S. Customs Agents for allegedly possessing a stash of mushrooms.

The rapper was reportedly pulled for a second search after he landed. It was during the search that officials of the law enforcement agency found the shrooms. 

According to TMZ, the authorities are still testing the substance they allegedly found to confirm if it is indeed what they suspect it is.

Shrooms, scientifically called Psilocybin, are Schedule I substances — defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognized medical uses — under US federal law.

Thus, Vic Mensa was booked for felony related to narcotics possession when he was taken into custody on Saturday at the Dulles International Airport outside D.C.

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Vic Mensa had been in Ghana in December. He was later joined by colleague rapper Chance the Rapper in January 2022.

The duo toured some parts of the country and met with many musicians including Darkovibes, Sarkodie, King Promise and M.anifest.

Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper later met with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House at the latter part of their tour.

The purpose of their meeting, according to the handlers of Beyond the Return’s Instagram page, was to discuss an idea that could aid in bridging the gap between artistes in Ghana and the U.S.

Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa hoped to use their strong ties and relationships in the music industry to connect artistes as well as amplify the talent in Ghana and the rest of Africa.

In a press release, the USCBP said that cow dung cakes from India are prohibited in the US as they are considered to be potential carriers of the highly contagious Foot and Mouth Disease that affects hoofed animals.

The cow dung cakes were found in a suitcase that was left behind after passengers from an Air India flight cleared CBP’s inspection station on April 4.

“That is not a typo. CBP agriculture specialists found two cow dung cakes in a suitcase that was left behind after passengers from an Air India flight cleared CBP’s inspection station on April 4,” a media release said on May 10.

Though the press release did not contain any information on why the cow dung cakes were being transported, news reports suggested that it may have been due to the false belief that dung offers protection against COVID-19.

In India, doctors recently had to issue a warning against the practice of using cow dung in the belief it will ward off COVID-19, saying there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness and that it risks spreading other diseases.

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“Foot and mouth disease [FMD] is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most, has grave economic consequences, and it is a critical threat focus of Customs and Border Protection’s agriculture protection mission,” said Keith Fleming, acting director of field operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office.

FMD causes illness in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and other animals with divided hooves. It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats, according to the US’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

FMD is a worldwide concern as it can spread quickly and cause significant economic losses to farmers.

A single detection of a case of FMD will likely stop international livestock trade completely until authorities can eradicate the disease threat.

The US eradicated the disease in its livestock populations in 1929.

The CBP release said that though cow dung is reported to be a vital energy and cooking source in some parts of the world and is also reportedly used as a skin detoxifier, an antimicrobial and as fertilizer, it is prohibited in the US.

“Despite these alleged benefits, cow dung from India is prohibited due to the potential introduction of Foot and Mouth Disease,” the CBP said.

According to Vice News, sales of cow dung cakes have been rising steadily in the US, with supermarkets such as Walmart and e-commerce stores such as Amazon selling them.

The traveler is said to have arrived from Ghana at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Additionally, CBP agriculture specialists also discovered about 24 pounds collectively of prohibited oxtail, dried beef, turkey berry, carrot, medicinal leaves and prekese, a traditional African spice and medicinal plant product.

The CBP in a statement said the Giant African Snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because it consumes at least 500 types of plants.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the snails also threatens U.S. agricultural resources and causes extensive damage to tropical and sub-tropical environments. It also causes structural damage to plaster and stucco structures. GAS reproduces quickly, producing about 1,200 eggs in a single year.

The statement added that the “highly invasive Giant African Snail also poses a serious health risk to humans because it carries a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis.”

“Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are our nation’s frontline defenders against invasive plant and animal pests that threaten our agricultural resources.

“They face this complex and challenging mission with extraordinary commitment and vigilance,” said Marty C. Raybon, Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP’s New York Field Office.

According to the USDA, the Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica) was first found in southern Florida in the 1960s, and it took 10 years and $1 million to eradicate it. It was reintroduced in Miami in September 2011.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is conducting a regulatory programme to eradicate this invasive species.