US customs fines woman $500 over Delta Air Lines apple

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US customs fines woman $500 over Delta Air Lines apple | Secret Flying

A woman is facing a $500 fine from the US customs agency after an apple she was given as a snack on a Delta flight was found in her bag.

 

A Delta Air Lines passenger claims she was penalised $500 for bringing an apple handed out on a Delta flight through US Customs.

 

Crystal Tadlock was flying from Paris back to Denver, with a layover in Minneapolis.

 

The apple was handed out in a plastic Delta Air Lines bag during her first flight, which Ms Tadlock put in her luggage for when she got hungry during the second part of her journey to Denver, Colorado.

 

However, during her layover at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, she was randomly stopped and searched going through Customs and the apple was found by US border agents.

 

Speaking to a local news station, Ms Tadlock said: “He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, ‘Yeah.’

 

I didn’t really get why he was asking that question, and then he said, ‘It’s about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,’”

 

In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection declined to speak about the case details, citing privacy policies. However, agency spokesman, Steven Bansbach, said “all agriculture items must be declared.”