Aussie woman cops $2664 fine over Subway sandwich mistake
An Aussie TikToker has been hit with a footlong fine for bringing her Subway sandwich into Australia.
“Basically [I] just paid $2,600 for my Subway, just from Singapore you know,” Jessica Lee told her followers on the social media app.
“[I] probably will cry.”
The Perth woman says she was heading home from Europe when she picked up a sandwich during her stopover.
“Basically I bought a footlong Subway at Singapore airport because I was a hungry girl after my 11 hour flight,” the 19-year-old explained.
“I ate six inches before my second flight and then saved the other six inches for the flight, which they were more than happy with, they were fine with that.”
“And then I didn’t eat it on the plane and then we came to Australia and we landed and AHH!”
It was what happened next at Australian customs that left Ms Lee speechless.
“Basically I thought the little declaration thing you do for your carry-ons and luggage.. [well] I didn’t tick chicken and I didn’t tick lettuce. Chicken and lettuce. And that is a nice little $2,664.
“To be paid in 28 days.
“I quit my job before this trip,” a deflated Ms Lee added. “I have rent to pay.”
An ‘expensive rookie mistake’
The teen’s TikTok video has since gone viral, racking up more than 228,000 views.
While many have been quick to sympathise with the Aussie traveller, others have criticised her illegal behaviour.
“Unfortunately that’s what happens when you break the law,” one woman said. “This is how Australia is protected against pests and disease. It’s simple, just tick yes.”
“It’s your own fault,” another user said. “Do not blame the government for you not reading English and not filling in the declaration form correctly.”
Under Australian Border Force rules, “food items brought into Australia need to be declared on your Incoming Passenger Card".
“Australia has very strict biosecurity procedures at our international borders to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases,” it said on its website.
Ms Lee has since posted a follow-up video about her “expensive rookie mistake.”
“I know what I did was wrong,” she told followers.
“I didn’t declare it. That's illegal. I know that now.
“I was running off literally two hours sleep over like 24 hours of travelling, so it just didn’t even click to me that what I was doing was illegal.”
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Superhero Subway to the rescue?
But the toasted tale isn’t wrapped up just yet.
It appears that Subway is working on a plan.
On Thursday, Domino’s Australia tagged Subway Australia in Ms Lee’s video, urging the sandwich maker to “help her”.
In Subway Australia’s cryptic reply, the company said “we’re on it".
Yahoo News Australia has reached out to Subway for comment but is yet to hear back.
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