Khaled Ali, 35, appeared in Wodonga court on Thursday following a raid on Aussie Gift and Accessories on December 21.

Detectives seized about 17,000 cigarettes and 10 plastic bags of loose chop-chop weighing about five kilograms from the store in High Street, Wodonga. 

The items had not been taxed.

Customers continued to enter the store in search of cigarettes and tobacco as the raid unfolded. 

Police also took $4744 in cash from the premises, and machines used to roll the tobacco into cigarettes. 

The 35-year-old man, who had lived at Meadow Heights, appeared in court from Port Phillip Prison via video link. 

Ali has lived in Australia for four years but his bridging visa has run out. 

He told police he had only been looking after the store for the day and was charged with possessing the proceeds of crime. 

The court heard the cigarettes were sold from the business for $30 for a pack of 100. 

A witness told officers they had bought smokes from Ali a week before the police had conducted the raid. 

His business partner went to police and admitted to buying the tobacco from a man in Melbourne, which was then sold through the store for two months. 

Magistrate Stella Stuthridge sentenced Ali to a two-year good behaviour bond without conviction, taking into account his lack of criminal history and the 22 days he had spent in jail. 

Ali, who was supported by family members in the court room, will be taken into immigration detention the moment he is released from the jail. 

A police prosecutor said his matter would “red flag” in the jail system and alert immigration officials. 

The cash seized from the High Street business was also forfeited. 

The store, which also sells a wide range of colourful concrete animal ornaments, T-shirts, pipes and other tobacco accessories, continues to operate.