A passenger who arrived in Australia from Indonesia was fined about $2,000 after border guards found two McMuffins and one hidden in his backpack.
A vital security check dog smelled the food in the bag at Darwin Airport, causing a heavy fine, officials said Monday.
Commenting on the incident, Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said: “This will be the most expensive McDonald’s meal this traveler has ever bought.”
Australia maintains a strict biosecurity policy in an effort to protect its large agricultural sector from pests and diseases.
The authorities raised the alert level after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia, imposing a strict examination of all meat imported from this country.
This fever does not pose a threat to humans, but it is a highly contagious viral disease that affects livestock.
This fine of 2,664 Australian dollars is comparable to the price of 567 McMuffins in Sydney or the cost of several tickets to Bali, according to AFP.