Sniffer dog Dixie the spaniel has been recruited by the council as part of an operation to clamp down on illicit tobacco being sold in the area.

Dixie and her handler Bobbie Cranie were joined by officers from Police Scotland and Trading Standards officers last week when a number of premises across West Dunbartonshire were searched and a quantity of illicit cigarettes and tobacco was seized from one shop.

The operation was carried out after several tip-offs were received and the Trading Standards team is urging residents not to risk buying illicit cigarettes or tobacco.

Tony Cairns, Trading Standards team leader, said: “Traders who sell illicit tobacco will often conceal it from view and, on this occasion the seized products were hidden in a storeroom.

“They were not labelled in accordance with health warning and tax duty laws and further checks will now be carried out to establish what additional harmful substances they might contain.”

Trading Standards say this operation again highlights the potentially illicit and unsafe products that are entering the UK market.

They advise that consumers should purchase from trusted sources and ensure that they know who they are buying from.

Graham Pollock, the council’s manager of regulatory services, added: “In recent times, the increasing price of cigarettes may have tempted some smokers to buy illicit tobacco.We all know the harm that smoking does, but this brings further risks due to the additional harmful chemicals that can be present and lack of quality controls. We want to protect our residents from harm and make them aware of the dangers of buying counterfeit and illicit goods.

“We always encourage our local residents to choose legitimate goods and services which can be bought from our vast majority of honest local traders in West Dunbartonshire.”

Trading Standards point out that far from being a victimless crime, cheap tobacco makes it easier for young people to start smoking, takes advantage of people on low incomes and can help fund organised crime.

People caught with illegal tobacco face a mixture of enforcement action including reports to the Procurator Fiscal which can result in fines and imprisonment.