Britain’s Teenage Drug Runners (2017)
Britain’s Teenage Drug Runners is a documentary produced by BBC News that sheds light on a disturbing phenomenon: the exploitation of vulnerable young people by urban gangs involved in drug trafficking. Here are the key points:
The Country Lines Phenomenon
- Urban Gangs: In crowded cities like London, drug dealers face tough competition and police scrutiny.
- Expanding Territories: To expand their operations, these gangs exploit the countryside, where there are fewer rivals and high demand.
- Country Lines: Urban gang members establish drug dealing franchises in market towns or coastal villages. They recruit local rural children to do the grunt work while senior gang members manage operations from London.
The Role of Young Runners
- Recruitment: Children as young as 12 are recruited to transport and sell drugs.
- Controlled Workforce: Senior gang members choose easily controlled young members to travel to the countryside.
- Delivery Process: Orders from local customers are relayed via a dedicated phone line (the “country line”). Runners deliver the drugs and return only when their supply is sold out.
The Human Toll
- Vulnerable Teens: These runners are typically very young, with complicated backgrounds.
- Financial Temptation: They’re offered the chance to earn £200-£500 a week—money that’s hard to turn down for struggling families.
- Grooming Concerns: Social services struggle to tackle this issue, and politicians debate the best way to combat its underlying causes.
The Reality
- Up to 46,000 children are believed to be involved in gang activity in the UK.
- The “country lines” phenomenon has been flagged as “the next big grooming scandal.”
- While some gang members deny grooming, the impact on young lives is undeniable.
This documentary sheds light on a dark reality—the exploitation of youth caught in the web of drug trafficking.
