Woman sentenced to prison for importing illegal cacti and plants to Australia in fake lingerie packages | Queensland

A woman from Queensland caught the importation of illegal cactus and other plants in packages that claims to contain lingerie and shoes were sentenced to six months in prison.

Kirsten Mae Fearn pleaded guilty to 14 accusations of biosecurity at Brisbane Magistrates short in July after having imported illegal factories several times to sell online.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests discovered the program after the arrival of parcels in Sydney via an air freight from Hong Kong between February 2021 and March 2024.

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The packages were declared to contain lingerie and shoes, but when they were opened, biosecurity agents found 57 cacti and delicious plants.

The investigators then found 50 other succulent illegal plants at the Brisbane Home de Fearn nursery.

The deputy secretary for biosecurity, operations and compliance, Justine Saunders, said that Fearn had been warned several times in behavior, but she continued illegal activity.

“The ministry has chosen to face this through criminal proceedings due to the seriousness of the case,” said Saunders.

“Our biosecurity laws are vital for the health of the economy and the environment of Australia.

“Those who risk the environment of Australia by deliberately trying to bypass our strict requirements will be captured and will face the consequences.”

During the legal proceedings, Fearn admitted to the false illegal declarations in progress and to the import of factories, which she intended to sell online via her business.

She was faced with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $ 600,000.

After pleading guilty on July 25, Fearn was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, but she was immediately released on a reconnaissance liberation order, which means that she had to accept certain conditions of justice.

Saunders said it should be a warning to others that import threats to biosecurity.

“Australia has an enviable biosecurity record,” she said.

“We protect this by education and targeted regulations. We must all play our role in the safety of Australia. ”