Actress fined thousands of dollars for a harmless accessory at an Australian airport (3 photos)
Navya Nair traveled from India to Singapore and then to Australia. Before her flight, the actress adorned her hair with a gajra (jasmine garland) her father had given her. He also prepared a second necklace, knowing the first might wilt during the journey. 
"My father told me to keep the second gajra in my purse for the flight from Singapore," Nair told a local news site.
She failed to declare the flowers upon arrival, and when Melbourne Airport staff discovered the garland, she was fined nearly $2,000. 
Flowers are permitted in Australia if declared. According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF), up to six small boxes or bouquets of fresh flowers can be carried on a plane or cruise ship.
If the goods are not declared, the carrier faces a hefty fine – up to $6,600. Biosecurity officers inspect such baggage. This is because plants, including cut flowers, can contain insects, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 
Nair admitted her mistake: "I committed this offense unknowingly. But ignorance is no excuse."
