New Zealand: Men Arrested For Smuggling KFC During Covid-Induced Lockdown In Auckland

The arrests took place at a time when all restaurants, including take-away services, remain closed in Auckland under strict Level 4 lockdown.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

Auckland: The New Zealand Police have arrested men, who were trying to enter Covid-19 lockdown-hit Auckland with a boot full of KFC chicken and tens of thousands of dollars.

The arrests took place at a time when all restaurants, including take-away services, remain closed in Auckland under strict Level 4 lockdown.

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The men, aged 23 and 30, were charged with breaching New Zealand’s tough Covid-19 rules.

The men had travelled from Hamilton, about 75 miles south of Auckland, according to police.

The officers made the arrest after they noticed a suspicious looking vehicle travelling on a gravel road on the outskirts of the city, a police spokesperson told the BBC.

“Upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a u-turn and sped off trying to evade police,” they said, adding “the vehicle was searched and police located the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large amount of takeaways”.

The police officers also seized NZ$100,000 (US$70,000) in cash from the arrested men.

It is, however, unclear whether the men arrested intended to sell the food or if they hoped to use it as a distraction if they were to be pulled over, the BBC reported.

At least three buckets of chicken, about 10 cups of coleslaw, a large package of fries and four large bags containing other KFC items were seized from those arrested, as per the police photos.