The simple mistake that could see you fined £1,800 as soon as you arrive on holiday

A TOURIST was left with an expensive bill after arriving on holiday.

Many countries have strict rules about what you can and cannot take into the country, to protect the local habitat.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

A man was stopped after trying to bring souvenirs into Australia[/caption]

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

He failed to declare them, so was slapped with the huge fine[/caption]

A passenger was recently on a cruise holiday which had a stop in Brisbane.

On his arrival, he was stopped by local authorities after his souvenirs meant he broke a number of laws.

He was caught with two live plants, shells, sticks and seeds – all of which were not declared on his Passenger Card.

According to the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, he was then fined AUD$3,300 (£1,807).

The department’s Deputy Secretary for Biosecurity and Compliance, Dr Chris Locke said it was the first fine since cruises restarted after the pandemic.

He said while it was “fantastic” to have cruise ships back, it served as a warning to tourists.

He added: “We do not want anyone to go home with more than they bargained for by breaching our biosecurity laws.

“We want to ensure that everyone on board cruise ships disembark with great memories, not infringements or pests or diseases that could potentially devastate Australia’s plants, animals and agricultural systems.”

Another woman was nearly fined $1,116 at the Australian border for even stricter rules.

Traci Chen was travelling with her mum from Dubai to Brisbane when the pair were stopped and questioned by bio-security staff.

Despite declaring that she had saffron and honey in her suitcase, she was stopped due to a straw hat and a packet of makeup wipes.

And a woman was fined £1,500 after trying to take a Subway sandwich into Australia, after not declaring the chicken and lettuce.

The UK has strict rules for what you can bring into the country tax-free too.

For alcohol, you can bring:

• 42 litres of beer
• 18 litres of wine

Additionally, you can bring either:

• 4 litres spirits
• 9 litres fortified wine

And the tobacco allowance lets you bring in one of the following:

• 200 cigarettes
• 100 cigarillos
• 50 cigars
• 250g tobacco
• 200 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices

Alamy

Australia has very strict laws about what can and can’t be brought into the country[/caption]