MORE than 50,000 illicit cigarettes have been uncovered in Glasgow. 

Trading Standard officers uncovered the cigarettes in four premises in the Govanhill area with the help of tobacco detection dog Boo. 

The shop visits were carried out as part of Operation CeCe Scotland, a joint initiative between Scottish Trading Standards Services and HMRC which aims to tackle the illegal tobacco trade at retail level. 

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Sharing the news on Twitter, Glasgow City Council said it was "treats ahoy" for Boo, who is trained to sniff out tobacco that has been hidden and would not be visible during a routine inspection. 

This allows officers to find products which would be potentially dangerous and harmful. 

Police Scotland assisted Trading Standards officers during the operation. 

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "Our recent operation, in partnership with Police Scotland, was a success thanks to Boo, the tobacco detection dog who helped trading standards officers uncover over 50,000 illicit cigarettes in four premises in the Govanhill area.

"The visits were carried out as part of Operation CeCe Scotland which is a joint initiative between Scottish Trading Standards Services and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to tackle the illegal tobacco trade at retail level. 

"Boo is trained to sniff out tobacco that’s been purposefully hidden in locations which would not have been apparent during a routine inspection allowing officers to find potentially dangerous and harmful products."