Authorities fear illicit tobacco trade is moving from Gloucester shops to ‘tab houses’ on estates

Fears have been raised that the war on illicit tobacco could soon take a sinister new twist after £20,000-worth of the stuff was found in a home in the Forest of Dean. The surprise discovery in Coleford means the trade could be moving from corner shops to “tab houses” in residential areas. Until now, most of the illegal tobacco in the region has been sold under the counter at city centre shops. But in some areas of the north cigarettes sold from private homes at pocket money prices have been blamed for creating a new generation of young smokers.