Malayalam actress Navya Nair has spoken about being fined at Melbourne International Airport after arriving for Onam celebrations in Victoria. She was stopped by officials for carrying a small jasmine string in her handbag, which is prohibited under Australia’s biosecurity laws.
“Before I came here, it was my father who bought jasmine for me. He cut it into two parts and gave it to me. He asked me to wear one in my hair from Kochi to Singapore, since it would wither by the time I reached. He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore. I put it in my carry bag,” Navya said during a public event.
She explained that while the decision had been made with care by her family, it fell foul of strict Australian regulations. “What I did was against the law. It was a mistake I made unknowingly. However, ignorance is no excuse. For bringing a 15 cm jasmine string, officials asked me to pay a fine of $1,980. A mistake is a mistake, though it was not intentional. They told me the fine must be paid within 28 days,” she said.
The incident occurred during her trip to take part in the Onam celebrations organised by the Malayali Association of Victoria. Despite the fine, she did not allow it to affect her mood at the festival, sharing a reel from the celebrations with her followers.
Australia has some of the toughest biosecurity rules in the world, with strict bans on plant material, flowers, seeds and food products to protect against pests and diseases. Passengers are required to declare all such items on arrival, with fines issued even for small undeclared amounts.
Navya’s account of the experience has resonated widely, serving as a reminder to travellers about the importance of declaring every item, no matter how small, when flying into Australia.
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