Extraordinary moment police find illegal border-hopping women, 49, hiding in the boot of a Holden Commodore as she makes desperate attempt to sneak into Queensland for the THIRD time
- A woman, 49, has been found hiding in the boot of vehicle at a QLD border
- It is the third time the border-hopper has been caught trying to enter the state
- Footage of the bizarre incident was captured on police bodycam at a checkpoint
A Covid border-hopper has been booted from the Sunshine State after being caught by police hiding in a car.
The New South Wales woman, 49, was found tucked away underneath blankets in the boot of a vehicle which was being towed by a flat-back truck.
The bizarre moment on August 18 was captured on police bodycam at a Covid border checkpoint at Goondiwindi, about 350km southwest of Brisbane.
Queensland Police said it’s the third time the woman has been caught trying to smuggle herself into the state which has blocked NSW residents due to Covid restrictions.
A Covid border-hopper has been booted from the Sunshine State after being caught by police hiding in a car
The NSW woman, 49, was found tucked away underneath blankets in the boot of a vehicle which was being towed by a flat-back truck
Vision of the extraordinary incident shows an officer inspect the vehicle and quickly realise something is wrong.
‘There is someone in the back here mate,’ he can be heard saying the male driver of the tow truck. ‘Jump out.’
He then asks if the illegal border crosser is the ‘only one in there?’
Although the woman’s face has been blurred and her voice has been muted, she appears visibly frustrated after being nabbed.
‘I’m going to be nice to you there is no need to be rude,’ the officer says.
‘Do you know you aren’t allowed in Queensland? If you didn’t know that why are you hiding in a boot?’
Queensland Police said it’s the third time the woman has been caught trying to smuggle herself into the state
Police suspect the pair were ‘trying to move to Queensland’ as the truck was towing a number of items of furniture
She was arrested and transported to Boggabilla in NSW and fined $4,135 for failing to comply with Covid-19 Border Direction
Due to NSW’s spiralling coronavirus outbreak, residents are not allowed to cross the border to Queensland unless they are an essential authorised worker, or have a special exemption permit.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken a hard line on coronavirus lockdowns and interstate border closures, slamming all travel from NSW shut back in July.
Police suspect the pair were ‘trying to move to Queensland’ as the truck was towing a number of items of furniture.
Queensland Police in statement said officers intercepted the tow truck at the border and directed the male driver to open the boot of a sedan positioned on the tray.
‘The woman had been denied entry to Queensland at the same border crossing in Goondiwindi on two previous occasions,’ the statement said.
‘She was arrested and transported to Boggabilla in NSW and fined $4,135 for failing to comply with Covid-19 Border Direction.’