North Lanarkshire Council’s trading standards officers have seized more than 24,000 illegal cigarettes as part of a joint operation to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.
In total, 24,500 cigarettes and 7.55kg of hand-rolling tobacco were removed from four premises in Coatbridge, Airdrie, Wishaw, and Newmains.
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.
The team were helped by Boo, a dedicated tobacco detection dog, who found the concealed products.
Paul Bannister, Protective Services Manager, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco products costs the Treasury £2bn each year and harms legitimate businesses, as well as presenting a serious danger to public health.”
