Investigation reveals true dangers of counterfeit tobacco | Glasgow and West | STV News

00:22 Investigation reveals true dangers of counterfeit tobacco 0 Comments

Investigation reveals true dangers of counterfeit tobacco | Glasgow and West | STV News: "Counterfeit tobacco sold in a Scottish market has been found to contain more than 30 times the lead levels of genuine tobacco, an investigation has discovered.

High levels of toxins, including arsenic and cadmium, were also found in the products being sold by tobacco gangs.

More than half of all hand-rolled tobacco smoked in the UK is either fake or smuggled with no tax being paid, according to the makers of documentary BBC Scotland Investigates: Smoking and the Bandits.

Organised crime gangs cost British taxpayers £4bn in lost revenue a year through the illegal tobacco trade, it reports.

The programme charts how counterfeit tobacco from China is ending up in the UK, where it is sold in places such as markets and shops.

Roy Ramm, former commander of Scotland Yard, said: 'This is as international as organised crime gets. You know, the links around the world are exactly the same for this as they are for drugs trafficking, arms trafficking, people trafficking."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.