Sniffer Dog Helps Officers Seize Thousands of Cigarettes
Thousands of cigarettes and over two kilos of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized by Inverclyde Council Trading Standards in a series of targeted raids.
Most of the 14,500 non-compliant cigarettes – either counterfeit or in non-plain packaging – and all of the tobacco were found in one of the 10 premises raided.
The intelligence-led operation teamed up with Dixie, a specialist tobacco detection dog, who works independently with her handler for Trading Standards authorities and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Communities Convener Councillor Jim Clocherty said: “All tobacco is harmful but people who are willing to risk dealing in illegal tobacco are more likely to encourage children and young adults to smoke by offering cigarettes at pocket-money prices. Also, by making cheap cigarettes readily available, it makes it harder for smokers to quit and remain smoke-free. Places that sell illegal tobacco also put our communities at further risk because they may also have links with other criminal activity including organised crime.”
The Inverclyde operation is part of a widespread, co-ordinated effort to stamp out illegal tobacco supported by The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS).
People caught with illegal tobacco face a mixture of enforcement action including reports to the Procurator Fiscal which can result in fines and imprisonment.
Communities Vice Convener Councillor Natasha Murphy said: “The illicit trade in Inverclyde also affects legitimate businesses who are complying with the law. This seizure shows there is no hiding place for this kind of illegal activity and we are grateful to Police Scotland and HMRC who have helped to make this operation a success. And of course we can’t forget the invaluable contribution Dixie made to this seizure using her keen sense of smell to help stamp-out crime in Inverclyde.”
Businesses selling tobacco products can visit the government-funded www.businesscompanion.info website to check what their obligations are and how to comply with the law.
Trading Standards will also provide tailored advice to any business that operates in Inverclyde. To request this they should email tradingstandards@inverclyde.gov.uk
Anyone with any information about illicit tobacco, underage tobacco sales or any other form of illicit trading can report it via the Inverclyde Council website www.inverclyde.gov.uk or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506.
Photograph: Dixie with some of the illegal tobacco products seized.