Jovanco ‘John’ Kitanovski refused bail in Grafton Local Court

A Yowie Bay man was initially allowed to leave the scene of a major police operation at the Queensland border but was stopped just north of Grafton a few hours later.

A truck driver allegedly involved in sneaking Australia’s most wanted man across the Queensland border will remain behind bars until at least the end of November.

Jovanco Kitanovski, 46, appeared in Grafton Local Court via audiovisual link on Wednesday afternoon charged with intending to pervert the course of justice for allegedly transporting Sydney millionaire and alleged drug importer Moustafa Baluch inside a shipping container.

Fugitive Mostafa Baluch has been found in a Mercedes inside a truck shipping container while trying to cross into Queensland via the Gold Coast, more than two weeks after he disappeared while on bail. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Kitanovski applied for bail, however it was refused by Magistrate Kathy Crittenden.

Mr Baluch allegedly cut off an ankle monitor and disappeared late October, just days after he was granted bail on drug charges.

He had been on the run for two weeks until he was found hiding inside the boot of a Mercedes-Benz inside the shipping container.

Although Mr Kitanovski was initially allowed to leave the border checkpoint after Mr Baluch was discovered, he was later stopped at Tucabia, north of Grafton, about 9am on Wednesday where he was arrested and charged.

Kit Bros in Liverpool. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Kitanovski’s Sydney-based trucking company Kit Bros was raided by police early Thursday morning.

Mr Kitanovski will appear in Grafton Local Court again at the end of this month.