EAST Renfrewshire Council has urged consumers to look out for unusual cigarette packaging after tobacco detection dogs sniffed out suspected illicit products in the area.
A total of 4,400 illegal cigarettes and 6.5kg of hand rolling tobacco with a retail value of £8,000 were seized from two East Renfrewshire shops under suspicion of being counterfeit, thanks to the help of springer spaniel, Rosie, and German Wirehead Pointer Labrador, Boo.
The local authority is now urging consumers to look out for packaging that does not contain typical health warnings, spelling mistakes, discoloured packaging, or modified logos.
Councillor Danny Devlin, convener for environment and housing at East Renfrewshire Council, said, “This is a great example of partnership working between the Council, Police Scotland and Consumer Protection Dogs UK. The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Trading Standards and Police Scotland’s work is playing a significant role in disrupting this unlawful trade and is helping to take illegitimate tobacco products off of our local streets.”
