Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive at court in Australia
Johnny Depp was at his bride's side as actress Amber Heard pleaded guilty to dog smuggling! The blonde beauty was busted while her movie-star husband was filming a new "Pirates of the Caribbean" film in Australia. Australia is an island continent, and — just like Hawaii in the U.S. — enforces strict quarantine policies on dogs coming in from outside territories. Amber, however, dodged the restrictions to get the couple's two Yorkshire terriers past the custom agents!
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive at court in Australia
Amber, 29, pleaded guilty to knowingly producing a false or misleading document to get the dogs — named Pistol and Boo — into Australia without having them go through the usual 30-day quarantine. The situation turned into an international incident after Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the two celebrity dog might have to be put down by lethal injection!
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Amber Heard and Johnny Depp leave Southport Magistrates Court after signing a deal for dog smuggling charges laid against them.
"Mr. Depp needs to take his dogs back to California," said the Minister, "or we're going to have to euthanize them." The showbiz couple was given 72 hours to get the dogs out of the country. Johnny and Amber were soon both flying back to California.
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive at court in Australia
Amber was facing jail time for not declaring the dogs to Australian customs when she arrived with Johnny, 52, aboard a private jet in April 2015. There have been reports that her personal assistant was responsible for the dogs' travel arrangements and had been fired.
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive at court in Australia
The couple still got the star treatment when arriving at the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast. Depp wasn't facing any charges, but was there to help out with the contrite confessions.
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Amber Heard and Johnny Depp arrive at Southport Magistrates Court ahead of hearing over dog smuggling charges.
A video recording showed Amber declaring: "Protecting Australia is important. Australia is a wonderful island with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people. Australia is free of many pests and diseases that are commonplace around the world. That is why Australia has to have such strong biosecurity laws."
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Amber Heard and Johnny Depp arrive at Southport Magistrates Court ahead of hearing over dog smuggling charges.
Johnny joined in expressing remorse at bringing in the potentially lethal pooches: "Australians are just as unique, both warm and direct. When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell your firmly. Declare everything when you enter Australia."
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Amber Heard and Johnny Depp leave Southport Magistrates Court after signing a deal for dog smuggling charges laid against them.
Amber was spared any jail time, and was given a one-month good behavior bond sentence. The judge said that she was acting out of consideration for Amber's need to travel for work — and added that she didn't believe that Amber had lied about the dogs because the actress thought she was above the law.
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