BOSTON -- State treasurer Tim Cahill says he and his family were detained at Logan Airport after one his teenage daughter was caught carrying contraband back from Italy -- three peaches.
Cahill says his daughter was carrying the peaches for the nine-hour flight home, but he didn't know about them and didn't declare them.
Cahill says his family was treated "like criminals" after the peaches were discovered. He says customs agents told him he would have to spend the night in jail if he didn't pay a $300 fine.
The treasurer says he never told customs agent he was an elected official and was initially reluctant to discuss last month's incident publicly.
Cahill says he understands and appreciates the importance of homeland security, but believes time would be better spent worrying about something other than peaches.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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