Albury police could not confirm the link, told to The Border Mail by a number of sources, and are not treating the fire as suspicious.

Forensic services were at the Mate Street store on Sunday in the wake of the fire on Saturday afternoon.

NSW police media said the fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

“Forensics and fire investigators have been to the scene,” a spokesman said.

“We can’t speculate as to whether it’s linked to a Victoria Police investigation.” 

Inspector Kim Sorenson, of Albury police, said he “can't confirm (it was linked to the Wodonga investigation) at this stage.”

Fire and Rescue NSW duty commander Inspector Stewart Alexander said the fire broke out at approximately 3.30pm on Saturday.

“The building is structurally sound…but the interior was more or less totally destroyed.” he said.

“We checked neighbouring premises for any fire extension, there was none.”

Inspector Alexander said the fire was mostly contained to the rear of the business.

The front of the shop, which displayed various decorative statues and shelves displaying cigarette lighters and other giftwares, was mostly undamaged.

“It looks as though there were a couple of storerooms, while it was hard to tell at the time, it appears the fire was mostly in those rooms and the hallway,” he said.

“There appeared to be some products in there, but they had been completely destroyed in the fire.”

Albury Uniforms and Schoolwear, the business next door to the gift shop, posted on Facebook about the suspected illegal tobacco operation.

“Apparently the shop proprietor next door was raided on Friday by the Victorian Police at his shop in Wodonga,” the post read.

A 44-year-old man was charged after Friday’s raid.

The store was still signed as Essential Beauty when the fire broke out, but that business has not been the tenant for several months.