Over 24,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized as part of a joint operation to tackle the illegal tobacco trade. 

Trading Standards Officers from North Lanarkshire Council removed the fags from four premises in Coatbridge, Airdrie, Wishaw and Newmains.

They also recovered 7.55kg of hand-rolling tobacco.

Glasgow Times:

The team were helped by Boo, a dedicated tobacco detection dog, who found the concealed products.

The action was part of Operation CeCe Scotland, a joint initiative between Scottish trading standards services and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to tackle the illegal tobacco trade at retail level.

Glasgow Times:

Councillor Helen Loughran, convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said: “This is an excellent outcome for our officers, taking a significant quantity of illegal cigarettes and tobacco out of circulation and protecting the public.

“Counterfeit tobacco has often been found to contain more tar and carbon monoxide than legal products and, in some cases, glass and rat droppings.

"Some illegally manufactured cigarettes also do not self-extinguish, as legal cigarettes do, which could lead to house fires."

Paul Bannister, Protective Services manager, added: “The trade in illegal tobacco products costs the Treasury £2 billion each year and harms legitimate businesses, as well as presenting a serious danger to public health."

HMRC urges anyone with information about illegal tobacco sales to report it online or call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.