Israeli customs seize 300 unauthorized plants at Ben Gurion Airport

Israeli customs officers at Ben Gurion Airport seized approximately 300 plants, including banana saplings and staghorn ferns, from a passenger arriving from Thailand. The passenger, an Israeli doctor, reportedly claimed the plants were intended for his private garden, which he described as a jungle.

Legal proceedings have been initiated against the individual. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security confiscated the items, noting that importing plants without permits violates the Plant Protection Law. Officials emphasized that even a single plant can introduce foreign pests and pathogens.

Authorities highlighted the specific risk posed by Thai banana plants, as they could carry diseases that do not currently exist in Israel, potentially threatening the nation's entire banana-growing industry and natural environment.