SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 20 April 2024, Saturday |

Australia traveler fined nearly $2,000 over McMuffins

Two McMuffins and a ham croissant were found hidden in a traveler’s backpack when they were caught entering Australia from Indonesia, and they were fined roughly $2,000 as a result.

At Darwin Airport, biosecurity dog Zinta discovered the illegal egg and meat shipment, officials said on Monday, leading to an outrageous penalties.

“This will be the most expensive Maccas meal this passenger ever has,” said Australian agriculture minister Murray Watt.

Australia has hyper-stringent biosecurity laws designed to protect the country’s large agriculture industry from imported pests and diseases.

Authorities are currently on high alert after an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Indonesia, with all meat imports from that country undergoing screening.

The disease poses no risk to humans but is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock.

At Aus$2,664, the fine was equivalent to the cost of 567 sausage and egg McMuffins in Sydney, or several return flights to Bali.

    Source:
  • alarabiya