An expanded team of officers tackling the illegal tobacco trade in Scotland will be hosted by North Lanarkshire Trading Standards team, as reported by the council on Friday (Feb 20).
Operation CeCe, a national initiative supported by the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards for Scotland (SCOTSS) in partnership with HMRC, works with local authorities to disrupt the supply and distribution of illegal tobacco.
As a result of its success, additional funding has been provided to employ two full-time Fair Trading Officers, who will work alongside our team to form a dedicated Scottish Illicit Tobacco team.
The officers will gather intelligence on those involved in the trade and use this to identify and seize cigarettes and tobacco before they can be sold to the public.
New enforcement powers introduced in July 2023 allow Trading Standards teams to make direct referrals to HMRC, enabling HMRC to investigate and impose civil sanctions, including penalties of up to £10,000. Since these powers came into force, Scottish local authorities have submitted 232 referrals to HMRC.
In North Lanarkshire alone, since 1 April 2024, action by Trading Standards Officers has led to the seizure of 180,908 illicit tobacco sticks and 38 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco from 34 premises. This has led to a total £100,000 in penalties issued to illegal traders with further penalties pending.
“Our Trading Standards team has been very successful in identifying those responsible for the illegal tobacco trade in North Lanarkshire and working with HMRC and Police Scotland to stop products going on sale,” said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.
“Illegal tobacco is sold at pocket money prices, undercutting legitimate business and encouraging people, particularly children and young people, who might otherwise be deterred by cost to get hooked on smoking.
“The additional officers being employed will help tackle the illegal tobacco trade in North Lanarkshire and across Scotland, often run by serious organised crime groups.”
Alexandra Connell, Chair of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland said, “SCOTSS are delighted that North Lanarkshire have agreed to host this national team to tackle the rise in illegal tobacco trade at retail level across Scotland.
"North Lanarkshire Trading Standards have proven themselves to be a knowledgeable and skilled team in this area so we very much welcome that they will use those skills to extend the fight against this illegal trade across all areas of Scotland.”
The cost of employing the two officers is being met with grant funding from HMRC and SCOTSS.