Nearly 20,000 illicit cigarettes and 3.15kg of hand rolling tobacco have been seized from eight businesses by the North Lanarkshire Council Trading Standards team.

Premises face potential criminal prosecution, license reviews, and additional sanctions, including penalties of up to £10,000 as investigations continue.

The seizures were made during two separate operations in Airdrie , Wishaw and Motherwell in August and September.

According to the council, the products were concealed and stored in purpose-built areas designed to evade detection, but were uncovered with the assistance of tobacco detection dogs.

In another operation, one business has had its alcohol license revoked by the Licensing Board after the council's Environmental Health Officers seized 25 x 35cl bottles of cou

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