Boo the Dog's Role in Combating Illicit Tobacco
Boo, a five-year-old German Wirehaired Pointer Labrador Cross, is a key asset for Trading Standards teams in detecting illegal tobacco products. She does not distinguish between legal and illicit tobacco but is highly effective in locating goods that should not be sold.
Today, Boo accompanies officers on raids across Falkirk, following tips about two shops suspected of selling counterfeit cigarettes. With Boo's assistance, the officers quickly confirm the accuracy of the information.
First Shop Raid
During the initial visit, the shop is empty except for the man behind the counter. When Trading Standards officers identify themselves, he denies any knowledge of illicit tobacco. However, Boo promptly alerts her handler within minutes to what appears to be a box of M&Ms under the counter. Upon inspection, the box contains illicit cigarette packs.
Boo is rewarded with her tennis ball before moving to the storage room at the back of the shop. There, she uncovers a gym bag filled with illegal tobacco products and signals her handler to a car parked outside, where several cigarette packets are hidden in the boot.
Although this raid was straightforward, Boo's handler explains that retailers are increasingly employing sophisticated concealment methods.
"We are now coming up against significant concealments, electric magnets, hydraulics lifting things from the floor, coming down from the ceiling, false walls, false floors, vehicles. If we can't see it, we can't find it, but the dogs know it's there."
The Scale and Risks of Illicit Tobacco Trade
The illicit tobacco trade is highly profitable. One Trading Standards officer notes that shops can earn up to £20,000 weekly from selling these products, motivating some to take extreme measures to hide them.
Due to threats against enforcement personnel, Boo's handler's identity remains confidential, as retailers have reportedly placed bounties on sniffer dogs disrupting their operations.
Second Shop Raid
At the second location, a female employee refuses entry to the cameraman. Observing through the window, Boo repeatedly leads her handler to a row of fridges, where a stash of tobacco is found concealed in empty crisp boxes stacked on top.
Between both sites, approximately 5,000 illicit cigarettes are seized.
Operation CeCe and Enforcement Efforts
Boo's work highlights a growing issue across the UK. To address it, Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched Operation CeCe in 2021. Local enforcement teams have the authority to confiscate illegitimate products and issue notices, with HMRC determining fines of £2,500, £5,000, or £10,000 for retailers.
The operation has had significant impact. In 2020/21, 63,000 cigarettes were seized across Scotland. Officers expect to have confiscated two million by April 2026.
In 2026 alone, Boo and her Springer-Cocker spaniel-cross colleague Rosie have participated in operations uncovering 1.5 million cigarettes.
The officer accompanying the team described the problem as an "epidemic."
"It's becoming quite a significant problem throughout the United Kingdom, not just in Scotland. Shops are popping up on a more frequent basis now and, unfortunately, it's becoming a real problem in most communities."
Health and Safety Concerns
Beyond financial and legal issues, there are safety concerns regarding illicit tobacco products. In 2010, the European Union introduced Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) standards to ensure cigarettes self-extinguish when not in use. Illicit products lack these safety features, increasing the risk of fires if left unattended.
Consumers can identify unregulated tobacco by its colorful, branded packaging that lacks required safety warnings and images. In the UK, tobacco products must be sold in plain packaging.
Impact in Scotland
Since Operation CeCe's launch, Scotland has made more referrals than any other region in Great Britain. The first penalties were issued in January 2024, with 230 notices distributed across 20 local authority areas since then.
This illicit tobacco trade represents a significant criminal enterprise. However, as the officer explains, for Boo and her canine colleagues, the focus remains simple:
"Find the tobacco, get their tennis ball."
