US citizen faces hefty fines for accidentally bringing this common item into the country from overseas: Are they serious?

Is this bananas?A simple travel mistake will likely cost one man a lot.Dylan O’Byrne, a New Jersey native who resides in Nashville, was returning from a trip in Southeast Asia when he accidentally skirted customs regulations by bringing in an unsuspecting — yet prohibited — item.His flight from Singapore landed at John F.Kennedy Airport in New York, where he went through customs and was asked if he had any items to declare.

At the time, he said “no.”“I never buy anything on trips — maybe like a trinket or two for friends but not anything I would need to declare — and we go on through,” he said in a viral TikTok video with over 828,000 views.Then, they went to baggage claim.O’Byrne and his parents were “tired” and thrilled to be back in the States, only to be stopped by Border Patrol agents while trying to call an Uber.O’Byrne recalled the police dogs sniffing around his luggage and the officers asking if he brought back anything “prohibited.” After the family’s adamant denial, the dog sat next to O’Byrne’s bag.“I’m like, ‘What could this dog have possibly found?'” he said.“A banana.”The officer didn’t need to search hard for the smuggled fruit — it was sitting right on top of O’Byrne’s bag.

He forgot that he snagged the banana in the airport lounge during his layover in Germany to save as a snack.The Border Patrol agents confirmed it was his before scanning his passport and informing him that he would likely face “a penalty.”“I am like, ‘Are they serious? They’re joking, right?'” O’Byrne said.“Nope, they’re not joking.”“I looked into it, and even a banana can get you banned from Global Entry and a $500 fine,” he added.At the date of posting last month, O’Byrne did not know whether he would actually face a punishment for bringing the prohibited item into the US.

The Post has contacted him for comment.“I was rightfully flabbergasted.I know what can and can’t be brought acros...