Updated April 10, 2020 10:30:32

Queensland Police conducting border checks aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus say they have uncovered a stash of marijuana worth almost $500,000.

Officers pulled over a ute towing a trailer during peak hour on Wednesday on the Pacific Highway at Tugun, on the Gold Coast.

They said they found 93 kilograms of cannabis, stuffed in plastic bags, and more than $4,000 cash, bound for Queensland.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $450,000.

The 31-year-old driver, from the Gold Coast suburb of Palm Beach, is facing numerous charges and was also fined $13,000 for breaching the Chief Health Officer's direction regarding border crossings.

Photo: Motorists are being stopped at a checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway to stop the spread of COVID-19. (AAP: Dave Hunt)

He is on bail and is due to face the Coolangatta Magistrates Court in early July.

Of the 70,993 vehicles intercepted at Queensland state borders as of midnight, more than 1,000 have been denied entry to the state.

Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch said any person attempting to enter the state, even if they were a Queensland resident, should expect a heightened level of scrutiny.

"In addition to the current biosecurity risks, police will remain vigilant to disrupt any criminal activity," Detective Inspector Ahearn said.

Topics: epidemics-and-pandemics, covid-19, federal---state-issues, health-policy, travel-health-and-safety, federal---state-issues, government-and-politics, diseases-and-disorders, infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, drug-offences, crime, law-crime-and-justice, tugun-4224, qld

First posted April 10, 2020 09:54:55