Drug dealer jailed after using 14-year-old boy as county lines runner

A drug dealer has been sentenced to prison for exploiting a 14-year-old boy to sell drugs on his behalf, BBC reports.

Dealer imprisoned for forcing teenager into county lines drug trade

A drug dealer has been jailed after exploiting a 14-year-old boy and coercing him into selling drugs on his behalf, Google News UK — Crime (en) reports, citing BBC coverage of the case.

The dealer used the child to carry and distribute drugs, a practice commonly associated with county lines operations in which criminal networks recruit vulnerable young people to move and sell narcotics.

The boy, aged 14 at the time of the offences, was manipulated into acting as a runner for the dealer. Courts heard evidence of the exploitation before handing down a custodial sentence.

Authorities have not publicly named the child, in line with standard practice protecting the identities of minors involved in criminal proceedings.

The case reflects a broader pattern flagged by law enforcement across England and Wales, in which older dealers target children to insulate themselves from direct exposure to drug supply charges.

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)