Qld border cop stops tradie trying to sneak ute across on tow truck

The Gold Coast’s top cop has personally busted a tradie trying to illegally smuggle his ute across the border on a tow truck. Here’s how the border dodger was busted.

The Gold Coast’s top cop has personally busted a tradie trying to illegally smuggle his ute across the border on a tow truck.

Acting chief superintendent Rhys Wildman was at the police checkpoint at Coolangatta on Monday when he saw the ute, carrying painting equipment, being brought across the border about 11.30am on Monday.

The tow truck dropped the ute in a back street and the tradie walked across the border from Tweed Heads to meet it.

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“It didn’t look right so I followed the truck into the back street and lo and behold” Supt Wildman said

“The fellow lives at Coolangatta but had been working in northern NSW and obviously couldn’t get a border pass to come across, so he’s tried the old trick of putting his vehicle on a tow truck.

“Anything coming across on tow trucks is being carefully examined because we’re getting a bit of this happening. It’s disappointing.”

Supt Wildman said the tradie was hit with a $4135 fine for failing to comply with border directions.