LANARKSHIRE: Police in Wishaw have raided a home in Craigneuk seizing thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit cigarettes in the process.
Officers from the Wishaw Police Office based Community Investigation Unit raided the home in Glencairn Avenue yesterday (Wednesday) with a counterfeit goods warrant.
Seized from the house was around £2,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco.
Sgt Neil MacLeod, from the Community Investigation Unit, said: “Removing the cigarettes and tobacco from circulation is seen as important because of the serious health risks posed by these items.
“Officers will be carrying out further enquiry in relation to the goods and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in relation to sale and supply of counterfeit goods in due course.”
Independent research carried out at St Andrews University showed fake cigarettes being sold in the UK contained five times as much cadmium as genuine cigarettes. Cadmium can severely damage the lungs and is linked with kidney disease.
Fakes also carry nearly six times as much lead, which damages the organs and nervous system.
Further research by an independent laboratory showed counterfeit cigarettes seized by Customs also contained 160 per cent more tar, 80 per cent more nicotine and 133 per cent more carbon monoxide than genuine cigarettes.
