West Midlands Police say "middle class" drug users are fuelling County Lines abuse
Those being targeted see drugs as a "harmless weekend party habit"
West Midlands Police are telling us "middle class" drug users need a "WAKE UP call" to the violence and abuse they support every time they buy drugs.
The police are also supporting a new government ad campaign aiming to stamp out middle class drug use.
Detective Superintendent, Wendy Bailey, works in the organised crime unit, she said: "people need to stop turning a blind eye to the damage caused by county lines drug gangs.. There needs to be more awareness and education around the vulnerable children being used to transport drugs across the region."
Police are targeting people who have the money to buy drugs regularly and who might see it as a "harmless weekend party habit".
Almost 170 county lines drug gangs have been busted by West Midlands Police since June last year - but are still investigating hundreds more.
Police have sent text messages to more than 2,000 customers found on a County Lines drugs phone – urging them to seek addiction help and stressing they are fuelling the exploitation of children.
The phone was seized as part of an investigation into a drugs network that’s supplying up to £3,000 worth of cocaine a day across Birmingham and into Worcestershire.
Analysis of the dealer hotline revealed the mobile numbers of more than 2,000 contacts who were receiving SMS marketing updates from the drugs line.
One of those numbers was traced to a healthcare worker, another to a man working in hospitality, and it’s suspected many more customers will be middle class professionals with ‘social’ cocaine habits.
They received warning messages telling them their phone numbers have been identified as part of a drugs supply investigation.
It reads: “This is a message from the Regional Organised Crime Unit for the West Midlands region County Lines Taskforce, Operation Index. We have sent you this message as your phone number has been in contact with a known County Lines drug line, which is being targeted by police.
“If you require any further information then please visit (web address). The site will also provide contact details of support organisations who can provide help and support if you have an addiction or believe you are being exploited.”
Detective Inspector Dan Rooks runs the taskforce. He said: “Forensic analysis of the line – known as the Razor Line – shows the marketing messages being issued are appealing to the middle classes that use cocaine socially as well as those who have addictions.
“Intelligence suggests vulnerable people are being exploited and groomed to carry out drug dealing on behalf of the line. They are taking all the risks and their exploiters are making big profits.
“We want drug users to know their cocaine habit is directly leading to the abuse of children and to urge them to take action to address their addictions.
“We’ve arrested one user already and will be paying some of these others a visit over the coming weeks. They need to understand that if they are fuelling County Lines drug dealing they also risk arrest.”
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