Canadian cat smuggler refused entry to New Zealand

A Canadian woman who tried to sneak her cat in New Zealand has been refused entry into the country, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said Thursday.

The woman had only declared dirty boots to biosecurity officials at Auckland Airport after she arrived on a flight from Vancouver.

She confessed to carrying the cat in a small handbag she had taken aboard the flight when MPI staff attempted to x-ray it, said MPI spokesman Craig Hughes.

"She was very reluctant to have the hand bag x-rayed, saying it had already been checked by our quarantine officers. She only revealed the cat after we insisted the bag will have to undergo further biosecurity checks," Hughes said in a statement.

As a result of the find, immigration officials refused the woman entry permission to the country.

She was forced to return to Canada with her cat on the next available flight.

The woman claimed she had alerted officials about the cat when she bought her ticket, said Hughes.

"We believe this was a deliberate and very stupid attempt at smuggling. There are strict biosecurity rules in place to stop imported cats and dogs from introducing pests and diseases into New Zealand. The passenger clearly decided those rules didn't apply to her," he said.

New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules regarding the entry of animal and plant products and food. Endit