Two men were arrested after they were caught trying to smuggle a trunk full of KFC food and more than $100,000 in cash into Auckland, New Zealand, which is under strict Covid-19 lockdown, The Guardian reports. The pair tried to flee from police at the city’s border but were eventually stopped, leading to a search of the vehicle, where the discovery was made.
New Zealand Police
- Auckland has been under the strictest lockdown for about a month. The level-four measures mean that no restaurants are open, nor is takeout food allowed. Because of this, many residents have illegally sought out their favorite grub. In fact, just last week, a man was arrested and charged after posting a video of himself on social media leaving Auckland to look for McDonald’s, which is strictly prohibited.
- The car the two men were driving was very suspicious. A police spokesman said that “officers noticed a suspicious-looking vehicle traveling on a gravel road, and upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a U-turn and sped off trying to evade police.” After the vehicle was searched, “police located the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large amount of takeaways.”
- There was quite a lot of KFC in the car. Police evidence photos show at least three buckets of chicken, about 10 tubs of coleslaw, and multiple bags full of french fries. I feel like if you’re going to leave the city limits and pick up takeout food, you could at least get a variety. I guess KFC is what they were craving!
- The men face serious time in prison if convicted. Because the incident counted as a breach of the Public Health Response Act, the men could face a fine of up to $4,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months. They’ll shortly appear in court for breaching the health order, though given the large amount of cash on them, other charges are likely to follow.
Auckland Police
