A Belgian sausage smuggler who tried to conceal pork and salami sausages from biosecurity officials has been forced to leave New Zealand.
Photo: 123RF
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says staff intercepted the man on Sunday as he attempted to conceal the sausages in a backpack when passing through biosecurity checks at Auckland Airport.
MPI spokesperson Craig Hughes said one of the x-ray operators spotted the risk items.
He said the products turned out to be pork and salami sausages, both of which could have carried diseases with the potential to cause major harm to New Zealand agriculture.
He said the passenger - who was returning to New Zealand on a work visa - was refused entry after the man admitted he intended to hide the sausages from officials, as he was aware of this country's strict biosecurity requirements.
"Working closely with Immigration New Zealand, we take a very hard line on international travellers that deliberately ignore our biosecurity rules.
"It is loud and clear that every arriving passenger is required to declare or dispose items that could pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand."
