The Story INVESTIGATION: On the line - the loophole
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Mar 23, 2026 Rachel Baldwin, a CPS lawyer who explains how the Modern Slavery Act and the National Referral Mechanism work. Mike Brocken, a senior sergeant who runs Operation Sentry tackling county lines. They discuss children running whole drug lines, how safeguards and legal protections can be used or misused, and police operations and prosecutions aimed at disrupting organised crime.
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Arrest And Rapid Return Of A County Lines Runner
- Solomon Samwari was arrested in Leeds with roughly £400 of Class A drugs and a phone showing evidence of dealing.
- He was sent to a young offenders institution, then reappeared a year later suspected again, revealing persistence of the SAM county line.
Bulk Texting Scales County Lines Profits
- The SAM line sent bulk texts to recruit customers and grew from 25 weekly messages to 403, showing how scale is driven by messaging frequency.
- Sergeant Mike Brocken estimated that a very busy week could net around £6,000, implying >£300k annual turnover if sustained.
Usain The Vulnerable Teen Recruited Into SAM Line
- North Yorkshire police discovered a 14-year-old, called Usain, found alone in the UK and living with people linked to dealing, later owing ~£1,000 after losing drugs.
- The child entered police protection and became the focus of Operation Envy to prevent further exploitation.