New Delhi Chronicle Desk
New Delhi :Malayalam actress Navya Nair has made headlines after being fined ₹1.14 lakh (AUD 1,980) at Melbourne International Airport for carrying jasmine flowers in her handbag, a violation of Australia’s strict biosecurity regulations.
The actress was traveling from Kochi via Singapore to attend Onam celebrations in Victoria. She carried two strands of jasmine—one to wear during the flight and another to save for later—both lovingly packed by her father. However, this small gesture from home was seen as a potential ecological threat by Australian authorities.
Australia’s Tough Biosecurity Rules
Australia is known for having some of the strictest biosecurity laws in the world. Even seemingly harmless items such as flowers, fruits, seeds, or homemade food can pose a risk to its fragile ecosystem. Travelers are required to declare every item they bring in, no matter how trivial it seems.
Failure to declare restricted goods can lead to:
• Heavy fines worth thousands of dollars
• Visa cancellations in severe cases
• Confiscation and destruction of items
Navya Nair took full responsibility for the oversight, stating, “What I did was against the law. Ignorance is no excuse.”
A Gentle Reminder for Travelers
What was meant to be a tender reminder of home turned into an expensive lesson. For biosecurity officials, the jasmine garland represented a potential pest or plant disease risk.
Navya’s experience highlights a key takeaway for travelers:
“When in doubt, declare.”Even a simple flower garland can come with a hefty price tag if not declared. This incident serves as a reminder that in Australia, even flowers need clearance to enter.
