New Zealand Zero-COVID Patrol Arrests a Pair Trying to Enter Auckland With a “Large Amount” of KFC

They face 6-month imprisonment

Two men tried to reach city – where Covid restrictions banned takeaways – with NZ$100,000, three buckets of chicken and an undisclosed quantity of fries, police say

Two men have been arrested after police said they found them with a car boot-full of Kentucky fried chicken and over $100,000 in cash as they tried to cross the border into Auckland despite New Zealand’s strict Covid-19 lockdown.

The men were arrested after allegedly trying to flee from police near the Auckland border. When their car was searched, police said they found a large quantity of KFC, as well as the cash and a number of empty ounce bags.

The arrest struck a chord with New Zealanders – especially Aucklanders, who have spent a month in a strict level four lockdown that does not allow restaurants to open or residents to order takeaway food.

In such an environment, fast food can take on the aura of a high-value illicit substance. Last week, a man was charged by police after posting a social media video of crossing the Auckland boundary in search of McDonald’s.

After the KFC arrest, a police spokesperson said “officers noticed a suspicious looking vehicle travelling on a gravel road, and upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a U-turn and sped off trying to evade police.

“The vehicle was searched and police located the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large amount of takeaways.”

Close examination of the police evidence photos revealed at least three buckets of chicken, up to 10 tubs of coleslaw, and an undisclosed quantity of fries.

While the scene resembles the plot line of a buddy crime comedy, it is in fact a serious breach of New Zealand’s lockdown laws. A breach of the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act can result in imprisonment for up to six months; or a fine of up to $4,000.

The men will appear in court for breaching the health order, and police said further charges were likely.

Source: The Guardian

6 Comments
  1. jak says

    KFC is used by drug couriers to cover the marijuana aroma to dogs.

    1. Raptar Driver says

      Funny but that wouldn’t work.
      Dog sense of smell is just too keen.
      In my experience the only things that work is garlic and water.

      1. Jak says

        heh, Raptor, Obviously they didn’t know that either. 🙂 Sniffer dogs found it
        NZ Herald reported that they said that’s why they had so much KFC

      2. GMC says

        I was flying small hybrid plants in the back of my cessna , up in Alaska one morning. Had a friend who grew in the bush – a very little operation – just enough $ for the winter etc. Thank god my windows open at the bottom and latch , in order to keep them open , because that aroma started to get me high as a kite – lol True story. Thanks for te flash back. Them were the old days.

  2. jak says

    Not mentioned in article is that the two men were patched gang members. Black Power if I remember correctly. Among the top drug dealers in NZ in heroin/meth/crack and Marijuana

    1. Jose says

      Yes, this is a funny look at it. But the facts are the police pulled over and searched two known patched gang members, in a known car. And searched it, they got arrested for the 100k in cash, likely the kfc was a gift from whomever received the goods and paid said 100k.

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