Take care when transporting goods to foreign countries.
Brittney Griner’s story shows that one should be very careful about what you carry on a plane. A Houston-born WNBA star was just sentenced for the things she took into Russia.
Her condemned contraband: mere medicinal cannabis.
Of course, there are other airborne ways of landing into trouble — like taking an onboard bazooka to Bolivia, a torpedo to Taiwan, a missile to Mongolia, or more than 3.4 ounces of body spray to Springfield.
The occurrence of a serious plane-related infraction is making international headlines.
Late July saw a return from Bali in Indonesia to a traveler. Shortly after touching down at the Darwin International Airport, the traveler’s trip went to the dogs.
Dogs at Down-Under airports can be trained to detect illegal substances. One such animal — named Zinta — detected something illicit.
From the Australian agricultural ministry’s website on August 1st:
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said Zinta sniffed out the significant biosecurity breach…and the returning passenger has been issued with [an infringement] notice.
Murray was kind enough to commend the mutt
“Zinta was placed at Darwin Airport as part of the…tough new biosecurity defences, and it’s excellent to see she is already contributing to keeping the country safe.”
The violator was hit with a hefty fine — $2,664 Aussie dollars.
It was found in a backpack and had been taken as a bootleg. It was downright delectable:
[Z]inta responded to a passenger’s backpack, and after further inspection, it was found they were carrying a variety of risk items including two egg and beef sausage McMuffins from McDonalds in Bali and a ham croissant.
At issue: “foot and mouth disease.” As explained by The Associated Press, FMD is “caused by a virus that infects cattle, sheep, goats, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals. While death rates are typically low, the disease can make animals ill with fever, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, blisters and other symptoms.”
Bali reports cases of FMD, while Australia has remained FMD-free.
ABC News notes that the airport incident involved an error of omission:
Australia’s strict policy on food imports is part of its efforts to preserve the environment. [FMD]Out of the country. The passenger received the…fine after failing to disclose that they had the meat products.
Murray made a comment about jokes
“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.”
And make no mistake — he’s unsympathetic:
“This will be the most expensive [McDonald’s] 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.”
The Albanese Government initiated a $14 million biosecurity initiative in July to combat threats at malls and airports. Cairns’ and Darwin’s ports of entry were equipped with sanitation footmats. Also employed: dogs.
In dollars it amounts to $1,844.59 In the delinquent’s defense, McMuffins taste magnificent.
However, freshly offered in Darwin — according to the menu for McDonald’s Australia: McMuffins.
Maybe importation was too costly.
The fine may seem excessive, but this is Australia; as illustrated during last year’s COVID lockdowns, the government diligently looks out for its citizens (Language Warning):
WOW..people in #Sydney CBD, #AustraliaSing “You serve us!” pic.twitter.com/OP3P4RwCNO
— Wong Do Mein (@w0ng_d0_Me1n) July 24, 2021
Back to Darwin — a word often associated with evolution — per ABC, the sniffed-out smuggler also harbored hotcakes.
-ALEX
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Report: A naked 80-year-old protests a Biological Man in her YMCA shower, and is banned for bigotry
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