Cllr Peter Convery and Trading Standards Manager David Thomson promote South Ayrshire Council's new high-profile campaign.
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South Ayrshire Council is working to smoke out illegal tobacco and cigarette sellers with a new high-profile campaign in conjunction with Strathclyde Police and HM Revenues and Customs.
Illegal tobacco sales not only threaten the livelihood of local retailers – they can also prove deadly with counterfeit tobacco containing much higher levels of lead and nicotine than genuine branded cigarettes.
The seriousness of the problem was highlighted recently in a BBC television programme, which showed local criminal gangs in Ayr supplying counterfeit tobacco to buyers.
Councillor Peter Convery, South Ayrshire Council's portfolio holder for trading standard issues, said: "These criminals are showing a blatant disregard for the law and for the lives of others and they really don't care who buys their counterfeit goods as long as they get the cash. Test purchases carried out in Ayr showed the sellers had no concerns about selling to buyers who were clearly underage and we have to get these traders off our streets."
In recent years, more than 40 charges relating to the supply of illegal tobacco have been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal by South Ayrshire Council and Strathclyde Police, resulting in fines for those involved. The supply of illegal tobacco and cigarette carries a penalty of up to six months' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
Not only do the traders not care who they sell to – buyers don't know what's actually in the products they purchase with tests on counterfeit tobacco seized in South Ayrshire showing 30 times the level of lead found in genuine brands.
Although smoking any tobacco poses a health risk, counterfeit tobacco is estimated to equate to smoking 600 cigarettes for every 20 pack of genuine branded cigarettes and experts believe illicit tobacco products are responsible for four times as many deaths as illicit drugs. Estimates suggest around 4,000 deaths could be prevented if tobacco smuggling and illegal trading was eradicated.
Councillor Convery added: "There are a number of health issues related to smoking and we work closely with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to encourage residents to reduce or give up smoking altogether but the availability of cheap illegal tobacco and cigarettes undermines all our efforts.
"It also creates a whole host of additional health problems thanks to the much higher levels of nicotine and lead the products contain.
"You might feel you're getting a bargain when you buy a cheap packet of cigarettes but it definitely comes at a cost. I would encourage anyone buying tobacco or cigarettes to do so from a proper retailer and call on the people of South Ayrshire to let us know about any illegal traders.
"Together, we can smoke them out."
To report illegal traders or to find out more about our campaign, visit Trading Standards, email trading.standards@south-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 0300 123 0900.