POLICE seized almost £180,000 in counterfeit goods, illegal music downloads and drugs during a three-month campaign.

Trading standards worked with Police Scotland in north and south Lanarkshire targeting serious and organised crime.

From December 2014 to February 2015 almost 70,000 of counterfeit goods and £100,000 of illegally obtained music were seized, as well as around £9,000 worth of drugs.

The investigation also led to a 72% reduction in metal thefts and a tobacco detection dog was used to identify hidden stores of fake cigarettes.

Officers seized £17,798 of counterfeit goods from a local business connected to serious and organised crime and £29,000 of counterfeit football tops..

Inspector Andrew Thomson, Safer Communities, at Police Scotland's Lanarkshire Division said: "Tackling serious and organised crime is a priority for Police Scotland and we were happy to pilot this scheme to show how joint-working can really impact on our ongoing commitment to reduce the threat and harm that it poses to our local communities.

"The support of our partner agencies was crucial in the planning of this initiative, and it has been a fantastic opportunity for my officers to work with Trading Standards on a daily basis to gather intelligence, carry out joint operations and share good practice.

"Although the pilot has ended, we are as determined as ever to keep up the pressure on those who commit and fund criminality. No one is untouchable, if you are bringing misery into our communities, we will come after you."

Paul Bannister, Trading Standards Manager at North Lanarkshire Council, said: "We have a proven track record of partnership working with Police Scotland that delivers results, both in making our communities safer and in targeting those who break the law.

"The success of this operation demonstrates the effectiveness of working together by delivering on one of our key Community Safety Partnership outcomes, reducing the harm caused to communities by organised crime groups."

Shirley Clelland, Head of South Lanarkshire Council's Fleet and Environmental Services said: "This innovative partnership between South and North Lanarkshire Councils' Trading Standards services and Police Scotland is a major step forward in sharing intelligence to tackle criminal activity in our local communities."