Forbidden cargo 'deliberately hidden'
Biosecurity officials are yet to decide if two yachties they believe deliberately concealed fruit while sailing into Northland will be prosecuted for potentially putting the country's $3.5 billion horticulture industry at risk.
The hidden fruit was found when Ministry of Primary Industry staff and a special sniffer dog named Snoop checked boats heading to Opua and Whangarei.
Biosecurity checks have been ramped up following the discovery of two Queensland fruit flies in Whangarei earlier this year. The finds sparked major detection and containment exercises costing more than $2 million.
Although there was little evidence to suggest the invaders arrived on boats moored at the nearby Whangarei Town Basin, the incidents spurred MPI to up its biosecurity checks of visiting yachts.