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A 77-year-old New Zealand woman was just fined A$3,000 (BD745) by Australian Customs for failing to declare a chicken sandwich upon her arrival into the country.
According to reports, June Armstrong had purchased a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich at Christchurch Airport in New Zealand before boarding her flight to Brisbane.
Her plan was to eat the sandwich during the three-and-a-half-hour flight. But once on the flight, she fell asleep and forgot that the sandwich was in her bag.
After landing at Brisbane, Armstrong completed the Customs declaration form as she was carrying prescription medication. She however neglected to declare the chicken sandwich that was still in her bag.
When she was going through Customs security, her bag was checked and the sandwich was discovered.
Armstrong asked the Customs security officer if they wouldn't mind disposing of the sandwich for her. After the officer threw the sandwich away, they informed Armstrong that she would be fined A$3,000 for failing to declare it.
Australia has very strict rules regarding what food and biological items can be brought into the country.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, "Meat has strict import conditions which can change quickly based on disease outbreaks."
It isn't just meat that's subject to strict regulations either. In previous incidents, passengers have been fined for bringing a rose and a McMuffic into Australian airports.
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