Detection dog Boo helps seize counterfeit tobacco products in Renfrewshire

A tobacco detection dog has helped seize more than £126,000 of counterfeit or illegal tobacco and nicotine vapes in recent months as part of joint enforcement activity in Renfrewshire.

Trading Standards officers at Renfrewshire Council, in partnership with Police Scotland and Consumer Protection Dogs visited ten retail premises with detection dog Boo to ensure they were complying with current legislation.

During the inspections, Labrador and German Pointer-cross Boo helped discover concealed tobacco in four of the premises and illegal products were recovered behind the counter in all ten.

In total, 4,596 packets of cigarettes and 19.45kg of Hand Rolling Tobacco were seized, examined, and assessed to be in breach of the regulations and 1,925 Nicotine Vapour Products were recovered which were identified as being non-compliant – with appropriate enforcement action now underway.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities and Housing Policy Board, said: “Officers within our Trading Standards team and at Police Scotland deserve great credit for removing these illegal and counterfeit items from sale – as does detection dog Boo!

“Not only are they illegal, but they can pose a serious danger to people’s health if they are using a product that is not as presented so I would encourage everyone to ensure they consider this before purchasing these types of products.

“We want to encourage everyone to lead active, healthy lives so please take this as a warning that you may not know what you are putting into your body when you purchase a nicotine product and if you want to give up then you can access support from the NHS – take that first step as soon as you can.”

Three-year-old Boo started her training as a puppy by learning to scent dry leaf tobacco in a range of busy and noisy environments to prepare for her role as a detection dog – with two other puppies from her litter now scenting out explosives.

Local Area Commander, Chief Inspector Alexandra Marshall, said: “We will continue to work with our partners to gather intelligence and carry out joint operations to deter this type of criminality.

“We are determined to crackdown on illegal and counterfeit items to reduce the harm they pose and make our communities safer. I would encourage anyone with information about illegal cigarettes or tobacco within the local community to contact us through 101, or alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”

For more information on the dangers of smoking, visit www.nhsinform.scot and search for Quit Your Way Scotland.