Dundonians have been urged to heed the health dangers laid bare by The Courier’s investigation into illegal tobacco.
Undercover agents found it “very easy” to buy potentially deadly tobacco products from unscrupulous sellers in the city.
They unearthed evidence of a thriving underground trade in shops, pubs and clubs and products that can be tainted with unhealthy levels of tar and lead, sawdust, insects and even faeces.
Dundee City Council’s Trading Standards officers have been using the intelligence gained during such exercises to support their own work, conducting several operations against sellers.
In the wake of evidence that the trade is still thriving, the council’s environment convener Councillor Craig Melville said no one should be oblivious of the dangers it poses to their health.
“It is regrettable that illicit tobacco, and indeed alcohol, is a pervasive feature of our local community,” he said.
“Apart from the loss of tax revenue that helps fund our public services, the extreme health dangers associated with counterfeit product should be a serious deterrent to anyone thinking of buying ‘under-the-counter’ product from anyone in Dundee.
“I congratulate The Courier on their efforts to highlight this illicit trade.
“It is closely linked to serious organised crime and is harming the health and the economy of Scotland and our trading standards service is doing all it can to prevent it, particularly in terms of sales of any tobacco to children.”