Rockhampton tobacco store raided: Queensland Health officers leave Frenchville Gifts and Tobacconists with boxes of items

Customers tried to rattle open the door of the Rockhampton store on Thursday morning and were shocked to see what was unfolding inside. See the footage here.

Boxes of items from the Frenchville Gifts and Tobacconists store have been seized by Queensland Health enforcement officers after a raid on Thursday morning.

In scenes witnessed by this publication, a number of Queensland Government officers walked out of the Rockhampton business around 11am with crates containing paper bags.

This publication reported last week the store had only recently opened and was selling branded cigarette packets, vapes containing nicotine and had tobacco related items on display, which under the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 is illegal.

Fines for these offences range from $551.40 and up to $19,299 in court.

The store was closed while officers were inside the building and multiple customers went up to the door, rattled the handle and peered through the glass.

Queensland Police Service confirmed Rockhampton Criminal Investigation Branch officers assisted Queensland Health in the execution of a search warrant at a Frenchville business this morning and investigations were ongoing.

Queensland Health declined to comment about what was seized during the raid.

Within five minutes of the officers leaving a staff member exited the shop, had a cigarette, turned the “open” sign back on and talked to customers who were waiting outside.

Many customers went into the shop but came out empty-handed.

The shop appears to still be trading as normal but does not have any tobacco products for sale.

Queensland Health was unable to comment further.