Thursday May 14th 2026
Ro, the dog who heled police and trading standards uncover thousands of cigarettes in two recent raids (credit: West Lothian Council)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian’s Trading standards officers have recovered more than 10,000 untaxed cigarettes and tobacco products in raids.
Police joined Trading Standards officers in two raids earlier this year.
Sgt Jamie Duthie said in a report to councillors on the Whitburn and Blackburn Local Area Committee: “Community officers, in collaboration with WLC Trading Standards attended at numerous locations in an effort to target the sales of illicit tobacco.
“During this initiative a large quantity of illicit cigarettes and tobacco pouches were seized. Further enforcement will continue during 2026.”
A spokesperson for the council later confirmed the seizure of sizeable amount of illicit tobacco from two premises. One premises in Whitburn and one in Armadale.
In Whitburn 5,700 cigarettes and 21 packs of hand rolling tobacco (50g pouches) were seized.
from another trader in Armadale 4,640 cigarettes and 22 packs of 50g hand rolling tobacco were recovered.
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The visits were part of a joint operation where Trading Standards worked with Police Scotland. Trading Standards also pass information on to HMRC in terms of unpaid duty.
“UK duty has not been paid on the tobacco and the packs do not bear the necessary safety warnings. The packaging is also not the prescribed colour as per the legislation. All tobacco products must be in the olive green plain packaging.”
Support Midlothian View from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Thank you.