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SYDNEY - Plans by a group of curry-craving Barmy Army cricket fans to fly their favourite Indian dishes to Australia were dashed after unamused quarantine officials seized them on arrival and issued stiff fines.
The 10 England fans spent a small fortune importing the curries from 15,000km away in time for the start of the third Ashes test yesterday. The unusual takeaway order, which would normally have cost about £140 ($400), came to more than £1500 ($4250).
The Englishmen, who claim there is no decent Indian food to be found in Australia, persuaded the manager of the Bengal Paradise restaurant in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, to send two members of staff on a flight from Heathrow. Each had a suitcase stuffed full of chicken dhansak, mushroom pilau and other curry house staples.
But when the restaurant's Raj Miah and a colleague landed at Perth Airport on Wednesday night, they were quizzed by suspicious quarantine inspectors. They reluctantly owned up and were each made to pay an on-the-spot fine of A$220. Had they not admitted to trying to import the curries they could have been fined up to A$60,000 and left with a criminal record.
"Not only were there two dozen containers of curry, but the gentlemen didn't at first declare they were carrying food," said Carson Creagh, spokesman for the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. "We fixed them with a stern and beady gaze and they ummd and aahd before finally coming clean and confessing. We do it because there are significant disease risks in meat, dairy products and anything containing eggs."
The smuggled curries are due to be destroyed in an incinerator today. "They get severely cooked and turned into ash. You could say its extreme vindaloo territory."
Paul Burnham, chief organiser of the Barmy Army fan club, said: "Given the strength of the pound against the Aussie dollar, I'm sure the boys are not losing too much sleep over it."
But all is not lost. The chefs were allowed to keep the sachets of spices they brought with them and hope to rustle up some curries in Perth.
