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A US traveler had been threatened with a $500 fine for picking up a last-minute snack at an airport overseas.
TikToker Dylan O’Byrne, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, was coming home from Southeast Asia when an innocent slip-up landed him in big trouble.
His flight from Singapore landed at JFK Airport in New York, where he declared nothing at customs, he explained in a now-viral video.
But as he went to grab an Uber, border agents and a sniffer dog stopped him so they could take a look in his bag.
Confused, O’Byrne assured the officers that he didn’t bring anything back from his travels that needed to be reported.
However, he then watched in horror as a dog smelled something, and the official pulled a banana from the bag.
The traveler (@dylanobyrne) suddenly remembered grabbing the piece of fruit from an airport lounge in Germany during a layover.
At some point throughout his exhausting 42-hour journey, he had completely forgotten about it.
But Border Patrol didn’t care, as they scanned his passport and warned him of a possible $500 fine for bringing in an undeclared agricultural item.
“I’m like, ‘Are they serious?’ They are joking, right,” he said in the TikTok with over 834,000 views and over 38,000 likes.
“Nope. Nope they’re not joking. I looked into it and even a banana can get you banned from global reentry and a $500 fine.”
CUSTOMS FINES
Under US customs rules, travelers must declare all food items to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Even a single contaminated fruit can wreak havoc, like the 1980s fruit fly outbreak, which cost millions to clean up.
Failing to declare agricultural goods can result in fines of up to $1,000 for first-time offenders, CBP states.
“I was rightfully flabbergasted. I know what can and can’t be brought across borders — I’ve traveled my entire life, visited over 20 countries, and explored all 50 states thoroughly. But the way this was handled struck me as odd,” he told Newsweek.
US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Anthony Bucci said that, while the agency cannot discuss the details of individuals’ inspections, “all agricultural items must be declared” and prohibited items are confiscated.
“More importantly, civil penalties may be assessed for failure to declare prohibited agricultural products and may range up to $1,000 per first-time offense for noncommercial quantities,” Bucci said.
“If the items are determined to be for commercial use, violations will be assessed at a much-higher rate.”
Restricted Items (Require Declaration, Permits, or Inspection)
These items are regulated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when entering the United States:
- Absinthe (Alcohol) – Must be thujone-free and properly labeled.
- Alcoholic Beverages – Subject to quantity limits and state regulations.
- Automobiles – Must meet US safety and environmental standards.
- Biological Materials – Require permits from the CDC, USDA, or FDA.
- Ceramic Tableware – May be tested for lead content.
- Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property – Must have export permits from the country of origin.
- Defense Articles or Items with Military Applications – Require U.S. State Department permits.
- Firearms – Need ATF import permits and must be declared.
- Fish and Wildlife – Subject to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations.
- Food Products (Raw and Prepared) – Certain types are restricted, especially meat and dairy.
- Fruits and Vegetables – Require inspection to prevent pests.
- Game and Hunting Trophies – Require permits and must comply with wildlife laws.
- Gold – Must be declared if over $10,000.
- Medication – Only a 90-day supply allowed, with prescriptions.
- Pets – Must meet CDC and USDA import requirements.
- Plants and Seeds – Require permits and inspection.
- Soil – Prohibited without USDA permit due to pest risks.
- Textiles and Clothing – Subject to duty and import limits.
- Trademark and Copyrighted Articles – Counterfeit goods are prohibited.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
TIKTOKERS DEBATE
TikTokers weighed in, with some calling it a “serious violation” while others sympathized.
“Fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc., can carry bugs or disease that can impact our agriculture,” the user stated.
“This happened to a friend for an orange, $1,000 fine,” one user claimed.
“Almost like the tell you 100 times not to bring fruit before you even land,” another user added.
“I had to declare apples entering Fiji, they took the apples and chucked them out. Otherwise $400 fine. Not taking any food anywhere anymore,” one more commented.
Another user learning from his experience said “I do a lot of international travel for work, and the 2 things I’ve learned are 1: never make JFK your port of entry, and 2: never bring literally any food back, unless you got it from duty free.”
O’Byrne said he understands the law but hopes there’s room for “common sense”.
“I respect border security, but I wasn’t trying to smuggle fruit,” he told Newsweek.
CBP says rules are rules, and travelers should always declare food, even if it’s just a snack.
So far, O’Byrne hasn’t been fined and hasn’t applied for Global Entry, worried that the banana incident could get him rejected.
O’Byrne didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
