County Lines gangs in the East Midlands target children with drugs disguised as sweets
Police in the region have seized drug laced sweets
Police in the East Midlands are warning people to be on the look out for signs of exploitation as County Lines gangs use sweets laced with drugs to target children.
Local police have recently seized the drug laced sweets which they believe are being used to get children into the debt of gangs, so they can be exploited.
EMSOU’s Stuart Jones, who coordinates the police’s regional response to County Lines, said concerns were two-fold: “The use of sweets in drug dealing is by no means a new tactic, but we are now starting to see it being used in County Lines across the country, including in the East Midlands."
“What we fear is that children are not only being targeted as a new market, but are also being enticed with seemingly legal confectionary as a means of recruiting them into their ranks as ‘clean skin’ couriers and dealers, who have no previous record and due to their age are more likely to go under the radar.
“The illicit manufacture of such sweets means production is unregulated and thus levels of potency can vary, not to mention there being a high chance other harmful substances mixed in. The fact that these sweets are also commonly supplied in packs means the potential for accidental over-dose is highly likely, particularly in young people unaware of the dangers.
“We need people to be aware of these products, which we have no doubt are finding their way into parks and possibly even around schools. Make sure your children are aware of the dangers and call us with any concerns.”
The EMSOU and the five East Midlands police forces are teaming up with The Children's Society and the British Transport Police across the region to raise awareness around County Lines methods and ways to identify and safeguard victims.