Travel blogger Lays Laraya fined at Perth Airport after bringing rose from Qatar Airways flight into Australia

A travel blogger accidentally broke a little-known customs law while entering Australia and was fined a hefty fine for her costly mistake.

Lays Laraya flew with Qatar Airways from Dubai, where she lives, to Perth earlier this month.

When she got off the plane, the cabin crew gave her a rose in thanks for giving handwritten notes to all crew members during the flight.

Ms Laraya posted images of the rose to her Instagram story, unaware that she was being watched by customs officers.

Plainclothes officers soon approached Ms Laraya asking to see her passenger card, which all arrivals into Australia must complete in order to clear customs.

The seasoned jet-setter hadn’t indicated the bullseye in the factory section of the passenger card, but she claims she didn’t know she was supposed to.

After a 30-minute check of all her luggage and bags, she was taken for questioning by officials, who asked her if she had filled out the passenger card truthfully.

She insisted that she had answered everything honestly as the rose sat on the table in front of her.

Ms. Laraya is fined $1,878 for failing to declare the rose and violating the Australian Biosecurity Act.

“It didn’t occur to me that the rose belonged to the category of plants that would look good,” Mrs. Laraya said. Insider.

“If I knew I was voluntarily doing something wrong, I would have thrown it away before… I had the chance.”

“I had nothing to hide.”

She plans to appeal the fine after others tell her she should have gotten off with a warning or a much reduced fine.

She has also set her Instagram to private after receiving backlash online when she explained her mistake.

Ms Laraya forgot to hand over a rose given to her by the Qatar Airways flight crew (pictured) on her flight from Dubai to Perth

According to the Invasive Species Council, flowers are considered a significant biosecurity threat by customs officials because they can carry numerous invasive insects such as ants, aphids, mites, moths and beetles.

“Almost a quarter of arthropods intercepted at the Australian border during this period (2007 to 2017) arrived with flowers,” the council said.

“Importing flowers is one of the highest risk routes in Australia. The risks have increased in recent years due to growing imports, which now account for more than 20% of our flower consumption.’

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reiterated the council’s concerns.

“All travelers coming to Australia should be aware of Australia’s strict biosecurity requirements and the penalties for failing to comply with those requirements,” the spokesperson told Insider.

Lays Laraya (pictured) says she will appeal the $1,878 fine