Crimebusting Canines Foil Fake Tobacco Sales

A canine crime busting duo has sniffed out illegal tobacco in Dundee shops and foiled the sale of fake cigarettes. 

City council Trading Standards teams have been working with doggy detectives Rose and Boo in an intelligence-led operation,  

A number of retailers were targeted, with five found to be in possession of illicit tobacco. 

Nearly 9,000 cigarettes and 1750g of tobacco were seized, and officers also took away 42 non-compliant, oversized vapes. 

The Dundee initiative was part of Operation Cece Scotland, where Trading Standards work with HMRC to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.  

HMRC can impose financial sanctions for non-compliance with Tobacco Track and Trace regulations, while Trading Standards can report any criminal breaches to the Procurator Fiscal. 

Illegal tobacco products are unregulated and can often contain harmful ingredients and bypass quality checks. Illicit tobacco can also pose a safety risk as they are unlikely to meet the self-extinguishing safety standards. 

If anyone suspects any premises is selling illicit cigarettes or tobacco, they can report it to trading.standards@dundeecity.gov.uk or via Consumer Advice Scotland on 0808 164 6000. 

Council officer worked with the specially trained tobacco detection dogs from Consumer Protection Dogs UK and their handler. 

Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Convener Councillor Heather Anderson said: said: “I commend our Trading Standards team for all their work in this area which helps to protect our city’s communities from harm. 

“Officers will continue to play a part in preventing illegal tobacco from being sold from local shops.”