Darwin passenger fined $2664 over undeclared McMuffins & croissant in luggage

It comes amid growing concerns about foot-and-mouth disease.

A passenger has been fined over $2500 after carrying 2 egg and beef sausage McMuffins from McDonalds in Bali, as well as a ham croissant, in their luggage.

The meat products will be tested for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) before they are destroyed.

The fast food was discovered by Zinta, a detector dog at Darwin International Airport.

The passenger has been issued with a $2664 infringement notice.

“This will be the most expensive Maccas meal this passenger ever has," Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said.

"I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia’s strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught."

“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.”

Only last week, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said Watt was "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to foot-and-mouth disease.

"The fact we have only foot mats going into Darwin and Cairns when you have 16,000 Australian returning from Bali a week, the risk is huge," she said.

Sign up to our new free newsletter to catch up on all our original reporting you may have missed & to read the latest from the editor - click here.

Help support unbiased journalism & keep us independent: donate just $4 a month on Patreon & receive exclusive benefits.

Want to inform others? Share the link to this story on social media & with your family & friends using the buttons below.