New Zealand: men arrested while trying to enter Auckland with car trunk full of KFC

In New Zealand, two men with a car trunk full of KFC were arrested while trying to enter Auckland, where restaurants are shut as the city remains under COVID-19 lockdown.

Police say the two alleged gang associates were held for a breach of strict coronavirus lockdown rules.

Under Auckland’s Alert Level 4 lockdown measure, restaurants, including takeout services, remain closed. Everyone must stay home and only essential services are open.

The rest of New Zealand is at Level 2, with restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs open, and residents permitted to leave their homes.

Police say they were patrolling back roads near the outskirts of Auckland when they noticed a suspicious looking vehicle.

Upon seeing the officers, the vehicle did a U-turn and sped off before eventually pulling over. When the car was searched, police found a large quantity of KFC, including three buckets of chicken, about 10 cups of coleslaw, a large package of fries, and four large bags containing other KFC items.

More than NZ$100,000 (US $70,000) in cash and “empty ounce bags” were also found.

The pair will appear in court for charges of breaching New Zealand’s Health Order, police said, adding “further charges are likely.”

Under the nation’s COVID-19 Public Health Response Act, the duo’s risky attempt could result in imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine of up to NZ$4,000 ($2,800).