5 articles
A former 'county lines' drug runner, known as Mike, has shared his harrowing experiences of being lured into drug dealing as a teenager. He details the exploitation, violence, and near-fatal encounters that led him to realize the severity of his situation and the importance of support systems for vulnerable youth.
Young people are increasingly taking charge of county lines drug operations, exploiting legal protections designed to safeguard victims. Police are concerned that the Modern Slavery Act, intended to help those exploited, is being used as a 'loophole' by teenagers running drug networks, making prosecutions difficult.
Police in York are intensifying their fight against "county lines" drug operations, where dealers exploit vulnerable individuals to sell drugs across the UK. An investigation into the "Teddy Line" led to a significant arrest and the seizure of drugs and a key phone, but officers acknowledge the ongoing challenge of replacing dealers.
Police investigations reveal how the fall of a powerful local drug gang in York created a vacuum, allowing "county lines" operations to flourish. These phone-based drug networks, often run from other cities, have brought a new wave of violence and exploitation to the historic city. This article explores the tactics, branding, and brutal reality of county lines, and the police response.
A new investigation reveals that UK drug gangs are exploiting anti-slavery laws to protect their young drug runners from prosecution. These individuals, often groomed and coerced, claim victim status to enter a protection scheme, making them difficult to charge. The Times and The Sunday Times uncovered how this loophole allows kingpins to operate with impunity.
