Hundreds of illegal cigarettes and vapes found in secret stockroom cupboard in Aberdeen shop

Hundreds of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized after being discovered in a secret cupboard in the back of a shop.

Trading Standards officers recovered 225 packs of illegal cigarettes, 30 packs of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco and 29 illegal vapes from two shops in Aberdeen.

One of the shops was found to have stashed the illegal goods in two secret cupboards in their stockroom.

The cigarettes were a mixture of non-duty paid, counterfeit, and illicit/cheap whites.

Illicit/cheap whites and counterfeit products are not “reduced ignition propensity cigarettes”, which means they will stay lit if not being smoked, increasing the risk of starting a fire.

The seizures were part of the intelligence-led Operation CECE, a UK-wide operation between Trading Standards and HMRC.

Rosie and Boo, who discovered the tobacco, are specially trained sniffer dogs. Aberdeen City Council

Police Scotland aided the Trading Standards officers and was 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 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 stocks, 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 enable 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.”