Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard could face ten years in prison as she is charged with illegally smuggling pet dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia on a private jet

By Joanna Crawley For Mailonline

Published: 11:40 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 13:17 EST, 16 July 2015

Amber Heard has been charged with illegally smuggling her two pet dogs into Australia.

The 29-year-old actress faces two counts of illegally importing the terriers Pistol and Boo into Australia on a private jet and one count of producing a false document, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Johnny Depp's wife could face more than ten years in prison if Australian authorities decide to inflict the maximum penalty.

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Trouble with the law: Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard has been charged with illegally importing her two dogs into Australia on a private jet

Amber's husband Johnny, who she married in February, has not been charged despite the dogs reportedly travelling into Bisbane on Johnny's plane back in April, where the actor was working on the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Their Yorkshire terriers failed to go through customs and undergo the country's required 10-day quarantine.

The actress has been issued with a summons to appear in a Queensland court on 7 September, although it's not yet known whether she will attend in person, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday.

Loved pets: The Hollywood couple came under fire in May for failing to declare Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo to authorities on their arrival in Brisbane in April

Barnaby Joyce threatens to euthanise Johnny Depp's dogs

Under importation charges, the actress could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of 102,000 Australian dollars (£48,000) while the false document charge, which relates to information given on an incoming passenger card, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU$10,200 (£4,800).

'All animals entering Australia must have an import permit, and have undergone relevant testing and health checks signed off by a government veterinarian from the exporting country to ensure pests and diseases from overseas are not brought here,' a Department of Agriculture spokeswoman confirmed said in a statement on Wednesday.

Pistol and Boo created a media storm earlier this year when they were discovered in Queensland, after seemingly having bypassed the usual conditions for animals brought into Australia.

The dogs' presence in Australia only came to light when they were photographed at a grooming salon. 

Hefty penalty: The 29-year-old actress could face more than ten years in prison if Australian authorities decide to inflict the maximum penalty

Filming: Johnny and Amber flew their pet dogs in on private jet to Brisbane, where the actor has been shooting the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise since March

The saga fuelled international headlines when federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce demanded the two pups leave the country or be put down.

Mr Joyce said told Sky News on Wednesday night he was 'pleased' the law has caught up with Amber. 'I'm always pleased with the legal process - we are all equal before the law,' Mr Joyce said. 

In May, Mr Joyce said it was time that Pistol and Boo 'buggered off back to the United States' as he gave them a 50-hour deadline to leave.

The minister said he didn't care if Depp had been voted the 'sexiest man alive', he still had to adhere to quarantine rules.

In the clear: Johnny has so far not been charged as the dogs belong to his wife of less than a year Amber 

Pistol and Boo, oblivious to the canine conundrum they had created, were kept in a Gold Coast mansion belonging to motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan.

An investigation was launched into whether Depp or his pilot should be prosecuted for failing to declare the dogs.

Pistol and Boo returned to the United States in the days after their discovery in late May, with Amber later indicating an unwillingness to return to the country.

'I have a feeling we are going to avoid the land Down Under from now on just as much as we can thanks to certain politicians there,' she told Australia's Channel Seven in an apparent reference to Joyce.

'I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes (of fame), including some government officials.'

Russell Brand jokes about bringing animals through customs

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