An acclaimed Indian actress touched down in Melbourne only to face a hefty surprise.
What began as a simple act of carrying a traditional garland ended in an expensive lesson.
Her mistake cost her nearly $2,000 and a stern reminder of Australia’s strict biosecurity laws.
Navya Nair, who flew from Kochi in India to Singapore before continuing to Melbourne on 13 September, was gifted a jasmine gajra garland by her father for her journey.
Given the long travel time, her father also provided a second garland for her to wear upon arrival—one that she tucked away in her carry-on bag.
‘He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore. I put it in my carry bag.’
When she landed at Melbourne Airport, officers discovered the flowers in her luggage.
Nair had failed to declare them, resulting in a fine of almost $2,000.
While bringing flowers into Australia is not illegal, passengers must declare them on their Incoming Passenger Card.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) advises that up to six small boxes or bouquets of fresh flowers may be brought in by air or sea—provided they are declared.
Biosecurity officers then inspect the flowers, and if pests or diseases are detected, travellers may need to cover treatment costs or choose to dispose of the items.
Failing to declare such materials, however, can result in fines of up to $6,600 due to the potential risks of introducing insects, bacteria, viruses, or fungi into the country.
In Nair’s case, her jasmine garland could have been approved had it been declared and verified as pest-free.
She admitted responsibility for the mistake.
‘What I did was against the law. It was a mistake I made unknowingly. However, ignorance is no excuse.’
According to the sources, the actress was visiting Australia for an Onam celebration hosted by the Malayalee Association of Victoria.
Onam is a traditional 10-day harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala.
What This Means For You
Indian actress Navya Nair was fined nearly $2,000 at Melbourne Airport after failing to declare a jasmine garland that had been gifted by her father. Under Australian law, flowers and plant material must always be declared for inspection, as they can carry pests or diseases.
Travellers who do not declare such items risk hefty penalties of up to $6,600.
For seniors who enjoy travelling, this serves as an important reminder—what may seem like a harmless keepsake or tradition could quickly turn into an expensive mistake at customs. Always double-check your incoming passenger card and declare anything you are unsure about—it is better to be safe than sorry.
Navya Nair’s fine shows just how easily biosecurity rules can be overlooked, even with something as simple as flowers.
But she isn’t the only traveller to run into trouble when it comes to Australia’s strict protections against pests and diseases.
Another case involved a caravan that sparked a massive biosecurity scare, serving as a reminder of what not to do when travelling with goods or vehicles.
Read more: This caravan unleashed a massive biosecurity scare – Learn what NOT to do!
Strict rules are in place for a reason—would you risk a fine for forgetting to declare something so small?
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