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Headlining on BBC Scotland‘s inserts to BBC Breakfast every 30 minutes this morning, making it onto the national UK broadcasts, illegal tobacco products and vapes in Inverness.

Inverness isn’t the sort of place where you’d expect organised crime, but the increase in illicit tobacco there demonstrates the long arms of the gangs involved.

Trading Standards and HMRC recently raided a shop there suspected of selling illicit tobacco. It was the 11th time Trading Standards had been at the premises since 2024 and the ninth time they’d found or been sold illicit tobacco.

Despite this, the shop remains open. The officer in charge on the day, who wants to remain anonymous, said: “We’re doing as much as we can, but it’s very disappointing.

and of course:

David MacKenzie, chair of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and head of Trading Standards at Highland Council, says stopping traders in illicit nicotine could be easier if the Scottish government gave them powers comparable to those available south of the border. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg820ndrgno

Are these newly discovered organised crime gangs? No, it’s the same County Lines drug gangs from large cities in England, diversifying their trade but still, today, BBC Scotland will still not say the words.

Here is who they are:

‘Highland police highlight rise in drug offending with violent English gangs from Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and London ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people to push heroin and crack cocaine’

Police officer says county lines gang members who ‘have been through the justice system in England’ target vulnerable women in Highlands but BBC Scotland reporter does not or cannot hear that last word

The plague of English drug gangs surging 40% in one year and holding back progress on drug deaths – How BBC Highland will tell the truth that cannot be told in BBC Scotland

Why can only BBC Highland Cops tell us straight that these drug gangs originate in England and are from London, Birmingham and Newcastle? Don’t they care about the reputation of the Union that we’re ‘better suffering together’ in?

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going

Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going

Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421