High street shops selling illegal tobacco raided in Inverness

September 3, 2026 7 Min Read

‘We’ve raided this shop many times – we keep finding fake cigarettes’

Trading Standards officers in Scotland say they need extra powers to help tackle what they describe as an “explosion” of illegal tobacco sales in high street shops.

The products include counterfeit cigarettes or those smuggled into the country to avoid tax.

Trading Standards link the UK-wide problem to organised crime.

The Scottish government said illicit tobacco is a serious issue and that it’s working with partners about how best to deal with it.

The BBC’s Katie Hunter joined Trading Standards officers on raids in Inverness.

Filmed and edited by Morgan Spence

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Original source: https://www.bbc.com/

High street shops selling illegal tobacco raided in Inverness

‘We’ve raided this shop many times – we keep finding fake cigarettes’

Pioneering wildlife cameraman Doug Allan dies in Nepal

NHS, bills and immigration: One constituency’s election talking points

Why all Olympic curling stones come from a Scottish island

The surprising history of LGBTQ+ laws in Scotland

Scotland’s chilly forecast for the first days of 2026

Sextortion: ‘I don’t want any family to go through what we are’

Watch: The ‘fed up’ Scottish town that voted for Reform UK

Underdog St Mirren fans reflect on cup final win

Is it fine to flake on your friends?

Al Lamont on that special, viral Scotland goal commentary

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Marti Pellow didn’t know Love Is All Around would be a hit

See the weather for Scotland vs Greece at Hampden

Weather forecast for the week ahead

Weather forecast for Perseid meteor shower

Damage and disruption as Storm Floris crashes into UK

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Shivani Rawat

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