Thousands of illicit cigarettes have been uncovered by trading standards officers in Aberdeen with a little help from two specially-trained, four-legged detectives.
Officers worked in partnership with police in an operation, which saw them visit a number of local shops to find out if illegal cigarettes and tobacco was being sold on the premises.
The two spaniels, Daisy and Dixie, sniffed out the tobacco during the search, which led to the recovery of 3,850 illicit cigarettes in one shop – 3,730 of which were found in a void behind a wall.
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Without the assistance of the dogs these cigarettes would not have been found.
During the search Dixie indicated that there was tobacco in a shelved area where stock was being stored.
On closer inspection it was clear that there were marks on the shelf which indicated that it was regularly lifted.
The stock was removed from the shelf and on lifting the shelf, which was hinged, illicit tobacco was being hidden in a space behind the tiled wall.
The cigarettes included L&M Blue, Rothmans, Rothmans Royals Blue, Rothmans Royal Purple, and were not in plain packaging and the health warnings were not in English, meaning UK tax had not been paid.
Graeme Paton, trading standards manager, at the city council, said: “This operation shows that trading standards will continue to take the necessary action to reduce the trade of illegal tobacco products in Aberdeen.
“The discovery of the illicit cigarettes which were concealed in a hidden area would not have been possible without the use of a tobacco detection dog. The sale of illicit tobacco products harms the interests of legitimate businesses.
“It also undermines the health measures put in place relating to health warnings and plain packaging.”
Last week it emerged that 5,000 dangerous phone chargers had been taken from a shop in the city by trading standards officers.
The appliances were found to give users electric shocks.
Dixie and Daisy were provided by Consumer Protection Dogs, an organisation which works with various enforcement agencies including trading standards, the police and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Funding for use of the specially-trained dogs is provided by the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS).
