HMRC make unannounced visits to Scotland's high street shops amid crackdown

The HMRC made unannounced visits to a number of high street shops across Scotland as part of a crackdown on illicit activity.

Officers, with support from Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and police, visited 11 shops in Dumfries, Glasgow, Inverness, Paisley, and Troon during the operation.

More than 139,000 cigarettes were seized along with 29 kilos of illicit hand-rolling tobacco.

Fines worth £10,000 were issued by officers.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of excise duty fraud on June 12 in Dumfries. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

The visits, tax and organised crime investigations, seizures and warnings are part of HMRC’s plan to carry out more than 30,000 compliance interventions in 2026-27 to tackle tax fraud and illegal activity on the high street.

UK-wide investigations are targeting enablers behind high street harm, including those using vape shops, barbers, souvenir shops, candy stores and convenience stores as fronts for money laundering and tax crime.

Kevin Hubbard, director of small business and individuals compliance at HMRC, said: “Too many high streets have been blighted by illegal activity that harms communities and undercuts honest businesses. We’re determined to change that.

“We’re working in Scotland and across the UK, increasing our action targeting the criminals using shops as a front for tax evasion, money laundering and fraud.

“This is a sustained, nationwide effort – and HMRC and its partners will use every power available to dismantle these criminal networks.”