Malayalam actress Navya Nair faced a surprising setback at Melbourne Airport when she was fined AUD 1,980 (around 1.15 lakh) for carrying a small jasmine gajra in her handbag.
Navya had flown to Melbourne to take part in Onam celebrations organized by the Malayali community. However, upon arrival, Australian Border Security officials stopped her after finding a 15 cm-long jasmine garland in her bag and fined her.
Speaking about the incident during the Onam event, Navya explained that the garland was a gift from her father at Kochi airport. " Before I came here, 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," she said.
Navya admitted she was unaware of Australia's strict biosecurity laws. "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 AUD 1,980. A mistake is a mistake, though it was not intentional. They told me the fine must be paid within 28 days," she added.
Australia has very strict biosecurity rules, especially regarding fresh flowers, plants, seeds, and food items. Such items are banned because they may carry pests or diseases that could harm the country's ecosystem.
