A shop attendant’s alleged attempt to lock police and health officers in during a raid has backfired when he also trapped himself inside.

William Lewis, 20, is accused of slamming shut the roller door of the northern Queensland business, trapping Taskforce Masher officers and Queensland Health staff — and himself — inside.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cops arrest shop attendant who allegedly locked them in during raid.

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Queensland Police allege he then shut off the power, leaving them all in darkness, and blocked the entry to the business.

The incident allegedly occurred at a business in Grafton St, Cairns, about 11.30am on Tuesday.

Additional police units arrived quickly and freed the trapped officers and inspectors.

Lewis, from the inner Cairns suburb of Bungalow, was arrested inside the shop.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in Cairns as authorities step up crackdowns on illicit tobacco sales in what has been dubbed the “tobacco wars”.

These enforcement efforts target illegal tobacco products often linked to organised crime and public health risks.

Lewis faced Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with seven counts of deprivation of liberty and was granted bail until his next appearance on July 16.

The maximum penalty if convicted of the charge is three years jail.

No injuries were reported.

Police said investigations are ongoing.