Warning over 'toxic' cigarettes

People are being warned of the dangers of counterfeit cigarettes

Counterfeit cigarettes which contain tobacco loaded with poisonous chemicals are hitting Scotland's streets, BBC Scotland has learned.

The authorities claim smokers are tempted by cheaper options as the price of legitimate tobacco rises.

Until recently that meant smuggled cigarettes, but now fake cigarettes are dominating the multi-million pound illegal trade.

Police and customs officials are calling for greater public awareness.

The fake tobacco is packaged to look like legitimate brands before being smuggled into Scotland and distributed to small-time traders to sell on the street.

The proceeds from the trade are then ploughed back into other illegal activities like drugs and prostitution.

The government is losing the battle against counterfeiting and it is getting worse Fiona Barratt Tobacco Alliance

The added danger is that illegal tobacco can contain high levels of dangerous chemicals.

Some counterfeit products were found to contain 80% more nicotine, 160% more tar, 5.8 times more lead, five times more cadmium and three times more arsenic.

The authorities said smokers were able to taste the difference - but by then it was too late.

Sheila Duffy, of anti-smoking charity Ash Scotland, added: "People feel that they are getting cheaper cigarettes, and they are.

"The problem is they have no idea where they come from or - more importantly - what they contain."

Fiona Barratt, spokeswoman for trade body Tobacco Alliance, said it was easy to be conned by counterfeiters.

"The products are so convincing that I've been in this trade for 25 years and I find it difficult to identify them.

"They have the most awful toxins in them whereas what we are selling is closely monitored," she said.

"The government is losing the battle against counterfeiting and it is getting worse."