Qld Health hits Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco with 72hr closure notice

Queensland Health has shut down a Townsville tobacconist over suspected illegal tobacco and nicotine sales amid a statewide crackdown. See what happened.

Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco was issued an interim closure notice for the sale of illicit products by Queensland Health on Thursday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A tobacconist in the Townsville CBD has been slapped with a 72 hour closure notice for its alleged involvement in the illicit trade of tobacco and nicotine products by Queensland Health on Thursday morning.

Details about the surprise closure were revealed in an “interim closure order” stuck to the roller door of Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco, opposite Townsville Brewing Co.

“As a delegate of the Chief Executive of Queensland Health under section 209A of the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998, I reasonably suspect that at Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco located at 265 Flinders St, Townsville (that) illicit tobacco or illicit nicotine products have been, or are likely to be, supplied at the premises as part of a business activity,” it says.

The notice warns that during the closure, it would be an offence to supply smoking products at the premises or work in a business involved in the supply of smoking products, with a maximum court punishment of 200 penalty units ($33,380).

Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco was issued an interim closure notice by Queensland Health on Thursday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes confirmed that environmental health officers from the Townsville Public Health Unit and members of the Queensland Health Central Compliance Team had issued the interim closure order.

“This action is part of a statewide heightened enforcement action targeting illicit tobacco sales,” Mr Keyes said.

He alleged that the tobacco retailer “was found to be supplying or likely to have supplied illicit tobacco and illicit nicotine products (vaping devices) and for supplying smoking products without a licence”.

“Evidence of possession and supply of these products has been collected.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes.

Enforcement action, including potential charges, fines, or court notices, were still yet to be determined.

“Environmental health officers routinely carry out investigations into the sale and supply of illicit tobacco and illicit nicotine products,” he said.

“This is part of a wider effort across Townsville as several other tobacconists have also been issued similar notices.

“Failure to comply with the act can result in fines, prosecution, suspension or cancellation of a licence, seizure of product, and closure of business.”

The interim closure order for Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco by Queensland Health on Thursday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

The closure comes as the Queensland Government continues its crackdown on illicit tobacco and vape trade, where 45 million illicit cigarettes, 350,000 vapes, and six tonnes of loose tobacco has been seized by early August, since the LNP came into office last year.

Queensland Health enforcement officers have issued $19.7m in fines since harsher penalties were introduced in April.

A Queensland Health closure notice taped to the front of Kirwan Tobacconist, ordering an immediate halt to the supply of smoking products. The store was shut down as part of a crackdown on illicit tobacco and vaping sales. Picture: Natasha Emeck

The last state budget also included $12.7m to hire an extra 43 public health officers during 2025-26 to boost enforcement capacity by more than 25 per cent in the fight against illicit tobacco and vaping.

In March, a Kirwan Tobacconist shop on Thuringowa Drive was hit with an interim closure order following a raid by environmental health officers from the Townsville Public Health Unit.

Originally published as Qld Health hits Flinders St Convenience and Tobacco with 72hr closure notice