Illegal tobacco products worth around £4,000 have been seized from businesses in Buckie and Elgin following a targeted operation led by Moray Council’s Trading Standards team.
The joint action, supported by Police Scotland and Moray Community Wardens, took place on Thursday 18 September after intelligence was received about the sale of illicit cigarettes and tobacco in the area.
A tobacco detection dog was used during the searches, leading officers to recover a significant quantity of illegal products, including counterfeit and non-duty-paid tobacco.
Councillor Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, said the trade in illegal tobacco put both local economies and public health at risk.
“The trade in illegal tobacco undermines responsible local businesses, and puts unregulated and potentially unsafe products into the hands of the public,” he said.
“Our Trading Standards team, with the support of our partners, will continue to take firm action against those who choose to ignore the law.”
Police also emphasised the importance of community involvement in tackling the illegal tobacco trade.
Chief Inspector Michael McKenzie, Local Area Commander, said the public had a vital role to play in identifying those involved.
“We were pleased to support Moray Council’s Trading Standards team during this operation,” he said.
“The supply of illegal tobacco is a concern for local communities and we will continue to work with partners to take action where offences are identified.
“The public’s assistance remains vital, and I would encourage anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco to report them to Trading Standards or Police Scotland.”
Investigations into the source of the products are ongoing, and enforcement teams say further action may follow.
The operation is part of a wider effort across Scotland to disrupt the sale of illicit tobacco, which continues to affect small retailers, reduce tax revenues, and pose health risks due to unregulated contents.
Trading Standards teams across the country have reported increased use of detection dogs in recent years to support targeted inspections.
Members of the public can report suspected illegal sales confidentially to Police Scotland or through consumer protection channels.
