More than 100 children as young as 13 have been caught supplying drugs in Scotland as charities warn growing numbers are being forced into crime.
Gangs are known to coerce vulnerable youngsters into trafficking drugs across the UK using so-called ‘county lines’ tactics.
The practice sees dealers from cities – often in England – expand their operation by forcing children to act as drug mules, carrying packages of heroin or crack cocaine on buses and trains.
They commonly coerce vulnerable youngsters using both the lure of gifts as well as the threat of violent reprisals if they leave.
Now, a Mail probe can reveal more than 100 youngsters have been reported to the Scottish Children’s Reporter in the past five years over alleged involvement in drug supply. The youngest was just 13 years old.
Figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service show a further 27 cases of children charged with drug supply offences in that period.
It is not clear how many cases can be directly linked to county lines but charities believe the true scale of the problem will be far worse.
Charity Action for Children’s national director for Scotland Fiona Steel said: ‘This research reveals the shocking impact of criminal exploitation, including county lines, on children and young people in Scotland and across the UK.’
She added: ‘We’re concerned what we are seeing is a growing problem and official figures do not tell the full story.’
Police Scotland previously said intelligence indicated children – primarily from care home backgrounds – were ‘used as drug mules’ in county lines dealing.
The Mail asked the force for details on the number of children who were found to have been involved in county lines drug dealing.
They said they had not collated this information and doing so would exceed the cost limits set out in freedom of information legislation.
Ms Steel said: ‘We need a clear legal definition and better coordinated reporting to track criminal exploitation across the UK.’
Linda Jardine, a director of charity Children First, said: ‘Children are particularly vulnerable to being targeted by these deplorable criminal gangs because they are too young to understand what is happening and do not recognise they are being groomed and exploited until it’s too late.’
The charity said the rise of smartphones and social media means young people are more easily targeted by abusive individuals.
Earlier this year Police Scotland arrested 16 people as part of a county lines crackdown. It safeguarded 22 vulnerable people.
The force said it is working with the Scottish Prison Service and HM Revenue and Customs ‘to find those responsible and bring them to justice’.
One exploited teenager shared his own harrowing experience of county lines dealers.
Chris – not his real name – had a comfortable upbringing but after dabbling with cannabis his life spiraled when he was offered drugs to sell.
He said: ‘I got into debt over the drugs – hundreds of pounds’ worth. They set you up to be robbed, so you lose the drugs they’ve given you to sell.
‘The only way to pay them back is to sell more drugs for them.’
After being referred to Action for Children, Chris was able to cut himself off from dealers.
He’s back in education and working part-time. He said: ‘I’m the lucky one – I got out in time.’
Anyone concerned that a child or young person is being exploited, can seek support from the Children First support line for further advice and help on 08000 28 22 33 free or at childrenfirst.org.uk