Ex-Drug Runner Details Harrowing ‘County Lines’ Exploitation

Young Voices from the Front Lines of Drug Trade

In the early hours of a London morning, crime editor David Wood noticed something disturbing: two children, no older than 13, standing alone at a train station with backpacks and old phones. They were ignored by the passing crowds, but Wood recognized the signs. He had seen many young people like them in court, caught up in the dangerous world of ‘County Lines’ drug gangs.

This observation led Wood to seek out the voices of those directly involved. The Times investigation, “On the Line,” features “Mike” (a pseudonym), a man in his early twenties who agreed to share his experiences for the first time. Mike’s story offers a stark look at how young people are lured into and trapped by drug trafficking organizations.

From Enticement to Exploitation

Mike grew up in a London neighborhood that wasn’t wealthy and had its share of violence. As a teenager, he was drawn to the lifestyle of those around him. At 15 or 16, while walking to a local chicken shop, an older man approached him. The man spoke about drugs and offered Mike £300 to £400 to deliver them.

“From that young age, it really did entice me,” Mike recalled. “I never really had that back then.” He agreed to his first task: to go to a house and give drugs to customers at the door. The drugs were crack and heroin, substances he had never seen before.

For three to four days, Mike stayed in the dirty property, which he described as a “trap house.” He was allowed £5 a day for food but slept in his clothes and felt the toll of the environment. His parents called, but he lied, saying he was at a friend’s house. This experience was the start of a cycle of deception and exploitation.

The Allure of Quick Cash and False Independence

After his first stint, Mike received close to £1,000. He spent the money on cannabis, clothes, and going out with friends. “No, it did feel very very good,” he admitted about walking through central London with money in his pocket at 16. “I did feel like a somewhat of a man going in buying my own clothes for the first time.” This feeling of pride and newfound independence was a powerful lure, masking the severe risks involved.

The man who recruited him was demanding and often rude. He pressured Mike to continue dealing, sometimes resorting to physical intimidation. “He was much bigger than me. He did used to rough me about a little bit to kind of like make sure that he knew that he was serious,” Mike said. Despite initial fear, he eventually agreed to return to dealing, riding a pedal bike to deliver crack and heroin. He felt a sense of pride, thinking, “Yeah, I’m top guy.”

A Cycle of Escape and Recapture

Mike’s parents discovered evidence of his drug dealing through his phone. Concerned, his mother moved them both to the Midlands to get him away from his old life. Initially, Mike resisted, but he eventually adapted to his new surroundings in Coventry.

However, within a month or two, he was approached again by someone offering to sell cannabis. He saw it as less serious than crack or heroin. But the profits were much lower, and soon he transitioned back to dealing harder drugs. This new group sent him to various towns across the country, including Middlesbrough, Cardiff, and Telford, traveling by train.

The train journeys with thousands of pounds worth of drugs were nerve-wracking. He avoided the more dangerous method of carrying drugs internally, known as “banking it,” which other young dealers encouraged. A close call in Cardiff, where police tracked his phone and arrived at his accommodation just minutes after he left, made him realize the extreme danger he was in.

Arrest and the Path to Change

Mike was eventually arrested in Cheshire. The conditions of the property where he was caught were appalling. During the raid, he hid the drugs and accepted his fate. He described the arresting officer as aggressive, but others were more neutral.

He learned that the dealer who sent him to that house knew it had been raided before, confirming that he was seen as expendable. Facing serious charges at 18, Mike felt scared of going to jail and realized that prison was not an option for him. He was released on bail.

While awaiting court, Mike was assigned a mentor named Nikki from the charity St. Charles Trust, part of an anti-violence program. Nikki offered understanding and guidance, discussing his future and the consequences of his lifestyle. Although initially half-hearted, Mike gradually began to open up to her, a connection he couldn’t make with his family.

Nikki’s support helped Mike start to see a different future. He was given over 200 hours of community service instead of prison. However, his transition was not smooth. He was later stabbed twice, an act he believes was partly because he was trying to leave that life behind. This violent encounter, coupled with the near miss with the police and the prospect of jail, profoundly changed his perspective.

Reflections on Exploitation and Hope for the Future

Mike reflects on his time in county lines, recognizing the power imbalance and exploitation he faced. “I never saw it at all. I never even thought about it,” he said, explaining that he felt like he was his own boss. He now sees himself as a victim of exploitation, acknowledging that his actions, while his responsibility, were driven by external pressures and the allure of easy money.

He emphasizes that many young people in similar situations lack the support he received. “I can only imagine what people without that type of support are going through now.” Mike urges parents to build strong relationships with their children and be involved in their lives to help prevent them from falling into such traps.

His goal now is to live a peaceful life and help other young people who find themselves in his former situation. He believes that many involved in county lines are under a “spell” and that there is a need for greater awareness and support to help them escape the “rabbit hole.” The series concludes with a look at police and political efforts to combat county lines.

Source: On the Line: Mike – Investigation | Part 4/5 (YouTube)