Here is a story that points out the importance of knowing the regulations when traveling to another country. For this unlucky passenger, his Mcdonald’s sandwiches cost him more than the price of his flight. He could have avoided this mishap if he had just checked the entry requirements for landing in Australia.
The Crime
This unlucky flyer was flying from Bali, Indonesia to Darwin, Australia. In the process of packing his backpack, he placed two sausage and egg McMuffins and one ham croissant sandwich in his pack. The cost for smuggling these undeclared delicacies came to $2,664.00 Australian dollars ($1,874.00 USD). This is double the cost of his flight between Bali and Darwin.
Australia has a new mandate to protect the country from foot and mouth disease. To make matters worse, foot and mouth disease has an outbreak in Indonesia including in Bali.
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Nabbed By “Zinta” The Dog
Australia takes its biosecurity measures seriously. In the case of this passenger, Zinta was on duty in Darwin, checking the arriving passengers. As this passenger was passing through arrivals, Zinta indicated that something was not right with a passenger’s backpack which contained the food from McDonald’s in Indonesia.
“This will be the most expensive Maccas meal this passenger ever has, this fine is twice the cost of an airfare to Bali, but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia’s strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught,” Minister Murray Watt said.
The airport’s new biosecurity detector dog, Zinta, uncovered the meat last week in a backpack of a passenger arriving from Indonesia.
“Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way,” he said.
“Biosecurity is no joke – it helps protect jobs, our farms, food and supports the economy. Passengers who choose to travel need to make sure they are fulfilling the conditions to enter Australia, by following all biosecurity measures.”
The passenger was issued a 12-count infringement notice for failing to declare potential biosecurity risk items and providing a false and misleading document.
Final Thoughts
Always check ahead before traveling to a foreign country. What you don’t know could really cost you. Please remember that another country may not be like home. What is legal at home may be illegal in another country with serious consequences. Something as benign as a sausage and egg McMuffin could be serious contraband in another country. Filing a false entry document will guarantee that your situation will get worse.
