Honey smugglers sent back to Ukraine

Untreated honey products have the potential to carry diseases that could devastate New Zealand's beekeeping industry. Photo / Thinkstock

A Ukrainian couple have been sent home after allegedly trying to smuggle honey into New Zealand.

The man and woman were found with nearly 3kg of honey and 1kg of pollen after a luggage search by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) staff at Auckland airport on Friday.

MPI's northern border spokesman, Craig Hughes, said the couple had arrived in New Zealand to work at a beekeeping operation in the lower North Island and failed to declare they were carrying any food or other items of biosecurity risk when questioned by MPI staff.

"Untreated honey products are a major biosecurity risk. They have the potential to carry diseases that could devastate New Zealand's beekeeping industry.

"They had declared they were apiarists, which is a high-risk occupation for us. That's one of the reasons why our inspectors conducted the search."

The couple stated the honey products were for personal use after they were found, Mr Hughes said.

"The fact they were taking the products to a beekeeping area is just mind-boggling."

As a result of the find, immigration officials refused the couple permission to enter the country. They were sent home on the first available flight.