Published on:
19
August 2025
Stirling and Clackmannanshire Trading Standards officers, in conjunction with Police Scotland, took part in an illegal tobacco disruption operation in Alloa earlier this month.
The operation saw thousands of illegal cigarettes and single-use vapes, with an estimated retail sale value of £11,000, seized by Trading Standards officers.
Councillor Scott Harrison, Clackmannanshire Council’s spokesperson for Place, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.
“While consumers seeking a deal on cheap cigarettes and vapes may think there is no harm in purchasing these items, the money made from this activity is often used by organised criminal gangs to finance other illegal activities, such as dealing in controlled drugs, modern day slavery and people trafficking.
“This operation sends out a clear message that this sort of illegal activity will not be tolerated in Clackmannanshire.
“I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards, you may have the missing piece of information that we need to disrupt serious and organised crime.”
Support and advice to stop smoking can be found on NHS inform.
To report concerns of counterfeit goods, contact Trading Standards, email tradingstandards@stirling.gov.uk or phone Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Stirling and Clackmannanshire businesses can contact Trading Standards with specific queries on tradingstandards@stirling.gov.uk
For more info on the work of our Trading Standards Service, visit: www.stirling.gov.uk/business-and-licences/trading-standards