A WOMAN who was hit with a £1,500 fine because of her Subway sandwich after accidentally flouting a little-known rule has revealed an amazing twist in her case.
Jessica Lee was shocked when she was caught by Aussie custom rules. She had failed to declare two ingredients after touching down in Australia.
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The 19-year-old was forced to fork out an eye-watering £1,500 on a fine – all because of the foot-long sub.
Jessica now revealed that Subway bosses took pity on Jessica and sent her an apology gift box.
She recorded herself opening a white box from the fast food company, which included a voucher for £1,500 worth of grub, news.com.au reports.
A message inside the package read: “To say thank you for eating fresh we’ve uploaded a Sub card with $2664 just for you.
“We hope that this covers all your lettuce and chicken needs. Love from your Subway fans.”
“Shut up,”The teen laughed as she displayed other merchandise from her TikTok video.
She also added the caption: “Subway you have outdone yourself and this fine is worth every cent,”She said it in the caption.
“You can best guess what I am getting for lunch and dinner today.”
They had previously said they would. “work their magic”After her story was published online for the first time.
After Jess exposed the bizarre reasons for the large fine, the TikTok video of Jess went viral.
After returning from Europe, she claimed that she hadn’t declared two ingredients in her sandwich to customs officials.
Jessica said: “I just basically paid $2,600 for my Subway.”
She stated that she bought a sub-foot long on a stopover at the Singapore airport. “because I was a hungry girl after my 11-hour flight.”
She stated that she ate half and saved the remainder for her second flight to Perth.
The flight crew were “more than happy”With her accepting it aboard.
She ended up not eating the rest of the sandwich and didn’t realize she needed to add it to her declaration at customs.
She said: “I didn’t tick chicken and I didn’t tick lettuce. Lettuce and chicken.
“And that is a nice little $2,664… to be paid in 28 days. Before this trip, I quit my job. I need to rent.
“I am very aware this is my mistake and I do take ownership, I am paying the fine. Don’t copy my expensive mistakes.”
A follow-up video showed a close-up of her paperwork issued at Perth airport on July 1, showing she was hit with 12 penalty units totalling $2,664 (£1,515).
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Some viewers weren’t sympathetic at the time.
One said: “Unfortunately that’s what happens when you break the law.
“This is how Australia is protected against pests and disease. It’s simple, just tick yes.”
Jessica should also contest the huge fine.
One of them said: “Babe I definitely think you could contest this… I’ve definitely travelled so many times with food for personal consumption on the plane.”
Another one: “Yet they let international visitors off with a warning on border security with bags of fish and nuts and seeds etc.”
Jessica replied: “They told me it was because there’s a language barrier between them but because I speak perfect English I can get the fine.”
HARSH PENALTIES
Australia has strict biosecurity laws that prevent alien plants, animals, and diseases from entering.
For those who are carrying food, they must tick off the appropriate boxes. This will be checked by border personnel.
They have the option of disposing of food in special containers at the terminal, before customs.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said: “Our biosecurity system works both at the border and here at home to prevent and respond to the arrival and spread of harmful pests and diseases.
“Those pests and diseases could disrupt our agricultural industries, our natural environment and our national economy.
“Food and ingredients that have not met our biosecurity standards (or cannot be shown to have met them) are common and high-risk pathways for these threats.”
Australia isn’t the only country that has harsh penalties for travelers.
Last year 41 holidaymakers were fined up to £2,500 each for taking sand and shells from beaches in Sardinia.
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