Two hidden cupboards filled with illicit tobacco and cigarettes have been uncovered by Trading Standards officers in a retailer’s stockroom.
Officers seized 225 packs of illegal cigarettes, 30 packs of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco, and 29 illegal vapes from two shops in Aberdeen as part of intelligence-led Operation CECE.
The officers were aided by Police Scotland and were also supported by two specially-trained dogs – Boo, a four-year-old lab cross wire haired pointer, and Rosie, a two-year-old springer spaniel.
Graeme Paton, Aberdeen City Council Trading Standards manager, said: “People might think they are getting a bargain buying tobacco from under the counter in a shop or via social media, and that it does no harm. But they probably don’t realise the connections between illegal tobacco and organised crime and that the proceeds are used to fund other illegal activities such as people smuggling and drug dealing.
“Retailers involved in the trade in illegal tobacco are very sneaky at hiding their stock. However they should be aware we are aware of their tricks – Boo and Rosie are specially trained to find tobacco products and their assistance is invaluable to enabling us to find tobacco products that would not be visible during an inspection.
“We’d ask people not to buy illegal tobacco and report sales of it to us in confidence so we can make a real difference to help keep more illegal tobacco off the streets – we need to keep the pressure up on those who continue to sell it.”
Of the seizures, the cigarettes were a mixture of non-duty paid, counterfeit, and illicit/cheap whites. The illicit/cheap whites and counterfeit product are not ‘reduced ignition propensity cigarettes’ which means they don’t have the special bands which restrict oxygen access to the burning end of the cigarette, causing the cigarette to go out if not ‘puffed’ by the smoker. This reduces the risk of fires from cigarettes left burning and unattended.
In addition to reporting criminal offences to the Procurator Fiscal for prosecution, Trading Standards may refer their findings to HMRC through new provisions in the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) Regulations 2019. Packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco must have unique identifiers marked on them, as required by the 2019 Regulations. Where a tobacco product is found not to comply, Trading Standards can refer this evidence to HMRC to consider applying a civil penalty called a sanction. For a first breach, the maximum sanction is £10,000.
