Millions of pounds are spent every year on trafficked dogs bought at unauthorised puppy farms or online. Sales are expected to spike in the run-up to  Christmas amid concerns that buyers could be getting duped into helping to fund gang-related crime in Scotland.

Now the Crown Office and the Scottish SPCA have issued a joint warning to all those tempted into buying a puppy online from unlicensed sellers – where some designer breeds can fetch as much as £3,000.

Kenny Donnelly, deputy crown agent for serious casework, said: “We know that many parents may be considering buying a puppy for their children at this time of year as a Christmas present.

“We would urge people to carry out proper research and only purchase puppies from authorised breeders.

“Organised crime gangs continue to spread their malign influence into illegal puppy farming and use the huge profits they accrue from it to inflict widespread harm on communities throughout Scotland.

“These gangs are involved in the distribution of illegal drugs and money laundering.

“It is critically important that anyone considering buying a puppy do so from legitimate dog breeders in order to avoid unintentionally supporting this cruel and illegal trade which exploits pets and causes them terrible suffering.

“Consequently, we seriously urge people to rely on authorised breeders.”

In the past five years, the Scottish SPCA have responded to 3,340 calls connected to puppy farms – an average of 668 a year.

This year so far there have been 163 calls, but Scottish SPCA officials say there is still an ongoing need for parents to only buy puppies from licensed breeders.

The animal welfare charity said many pets purchased from illegal puppy farms later suffer severe health problems and either cost their owners huge vet bills or are too ill to survive their first few months.