Johnny Depp Faces Up To 10 Years In Prison And A Hefty Fine For Smuggling Dogs Into Australia

Johnny Depp faces up to 10 years in prison or a fine as high as $265,000 for smuggling his two Yorkshire Terriers into Australia earlier this month. By not declaring his dogs to customs, Depp broke the country’s quarantine laws.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star found himself in hot water earlier this month for taking his dogs, Pistol and Boo, to Australia with him with declaring them to customs, reports the New York Daily News. As the Inquisitr previously reported, Depp should have applied to have his dogs enter the country and then quarantined to ensure the Terriers were not carrying rabies. However, he avoided the quarantine laws by flying the dogs into the country via private jet. In fear of Pistol and Boo being put down, Depp sent the dogs back to the United States.

Now, Johnny Depp is facing some serious jail time and a major fine for smuggling his dogs into the country. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian senate committee confirms the Hollywood superstar faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum of $265,000 in fines.

As the Daily News reports, Australian officials first learned the movie star smuggled his dogs into the country after the he took the Terriers to a local grooming salon and the owners of the shop posted pictures on Facebook. Australia’s Agriculture Minister warned the actor if he did not send the dogs back to the United States, he risked having them quarantined and euthanized. Depp sent his dogs back to the United States a day later.

At the senate committee hearing held in Canberra, it was revealed Johnny Depp is not be the only one in legal trouble for smuggling the dogs into Australia as his pilot faces up to two years in prison for transporting the Terriers into the country.

Filming of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean started in February of this year, but was interrupted when Depp flew back to the U.S. due to an injured hand. When he flew back into Australia after receiving treatment for his injury is when the actor allegedly broke the country’s quarantine laws.

Although reports have surfaced that the superstar has walked off set to be with his dogs in the U.S., according to the Brisbane Times, Depp’s publicist says the actor is taking previously scheduled time off from filming to come back to the States to celebrate his daughter’s 16th birthday.

[Image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images]