Two arrested with car trunk 'packed with KFC' while attempting to breach Auckland's lockdown, where restaurants remain closed

Two suspected gang members were detained after attempting to enter Auckland on Sunday with a car trunk full of KFC takeout, violating strict coronavirus lockdown measures, according to police.

Under Auckland’s Alert Level 4 restrictions – the strictest in New Zealand – all restaurants, including takeout services, are closed. Only essential services remain open, and everyone is required to stay home.

The rest of New Zealand is under Level 2, where restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs are operating, and residents are allowed to leave their homes.

Police were patrolling the backroads on the outskirts of Auckland when they spotted a suspicious vehicle, a New Zealand Police spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

Police images reveal at least three buckets of chicken, around 10 cups of coleslaw, a large bag of fries, and four sizable bags filled with additional KFC items.

The two men, aged 23 and 30, were traveling from Hamilton, approximately 75 miles south of Auckland, according to police reports.

The two individuals will face charges in court for violating New Zealand’s Health Order, with police stating that “additional charges are likely.”

Auckland will transition to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday. At this level, travel is restricted to essential activities such as commuting for work or school.

New Zealand has reported over 4,800 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 27 deaths in a population of approximately 5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data.