David MacKenzie, chair of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and head of Trading Standards at Highland Council, says stopping traders in illicit nicotine could be easier if the Scottish government gave them powers comparable to those available south of the border.
“This crime really threatens our communities,” he says.
“Organised crime has long been an issue in our big cities, but now it’s everywhere.”
Although Trading Standards are working to capacity, they would like to do more.
“Some businesses do take the warning and change what they do,” MacKenzie says.
“But some others are repeat offenders and it’s very frustrating to deal with them.”
Public health experts say the issue extends beyond lost tax revenues and unfair competition for legitimate businesses.
People buying illicit tobacco and vaping products may not know what ingredients they contain or whether they meet UK safety standards.
Dr Garth Reid, consultant in public health at Public Health Scotland, says: “Illicit tobacco and vape products undermine efforts to protect health.
“They are cheap, readily available and sold outside the safeguards that apply to regulated products.”
The Scottish government minister for victims and community safety, Kirsten Oswald, told BBC News that high street organised crime and illicit tobacco were serious issues.
She said the government was looking at the reality of the situation to establish the best way to tackle the problem going forward.
