Illegal vapes worth £25,000 sniffed out by tobacco dog Boo in Scots cops' raids

Police have seized over 18,000 illegal vapour tobacco products following a series of raids - with the help of a specially trained dog called Boo.

The vape haul, which has an estimated value of £25,000, was confiscated following an intelligence led, multi-agency operation in Ayrshire on Monday. Boo, a Labrador/German Wirehaired Pointer crossbreed is a tobacco dog, specially trained to recognise the product when being sold in Scots shops.

And the animal played a key role in the items being removed from sale in premises across North Ayrshire. A post on the Police Scotland Ayrshire Facebook page outlined the operation.

Titled "Counterfeit Nicotine Vapour Product Seizures - North Ayrshire", the post contained photographs showing the dog being led down Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, by an officer wearing a hi-vis 'Dog handler' vest.

The post said: "In continued, intelligence led, multi-agency partnership work, Police Scotland Ayrshire, North Ayrshire Council and a Consumer Protection Dog & handler attended several vape, newsagent and public house premises across North Ayrshire yesterday.

"'Boo' - a Labrador/German Wirehaired Pointer specifically trained to sniff out tobacco related products, was outstanding in assisting Police Scotland and Trading Standards officers to locate well-concealed illegal produce.

"Across the premises visited, over 18,000 illicit units were seized - estimated value £25,000. If you have information on the illegal sale of tobacco or vape products you can report this to Police Scotland on 101."

The post also featured pictures showing hundreds of the devices. A number of Al Fakher Crown Bar Super Max 6K vapes can be seen in one picture.

The vapes can cost as much as £12.99 each and come in boxes of 10, and at least 14 boxes can be seen in one picture, meaning those alone could fetch £1,820.

At least 27 boxes of WGA's Crystal Pro Max Plus vapes can been seen in the same picture. They also come in boxes of 10, with each vape costing around £10, meaning they would cost around £2,700.

Anyone who has information on illegal vapes can also contact their local council's Trading Standards department or can contact Crimestoppers Scotland, on 0800 555111, where information can be given anonymously.

North Ayrshire Council was also contacted for comment by the Record.

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