BORDER CROSSER BUSTED WITH GUN, AMMO, DRUGS HAUL

A MAN tried to cross the Queensland border with a loaded sawn-off shotgun, drugs and had made a false declaration on a border pass, police allege.

The 31-year-old Southport man is also accused of wearing a gun belt, lined with shotgun shells, and had ice on him, as he tried to leave NSW at Bilinga in his blue Audi on August 18.

A search of the car allegedly uncovered the drugs Suboxone and Xanax, as well as drug utensils.

It will be further alleged the border declaration pass the man was using was in his wife’s name.

Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said: “After initially speaking with the man, police will allege that we seized an ammunition belt, a shortened firearm, which was loaded, some shotgun shells, as well as a quantity of drugs.

“Police attended the Southport Watch-house where we issued a COVID19 infringement notice.

“Our police on the border are not only there to stop COVID-19 coming into Queensland, but we’re also there to deal with offences of this nature.”

The arrest comes as more than 2300 people have been turned away from Queensland at Gold Coast borders since the hard closure.

“What it tells us is that there are still a lot of people coming to Queensland. We really need people to do the right thing, fill out the border declaration passes. If you intend on providing false information there are heavy penalties and you may find yourself in court and not just getting an infringement notice.”

The Southport man has been charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon, authority required to possess explosives, possess utensils or pipes and contravene requirement of community-based order.

He is due in Southport Magistrates’ Court on September 15.