The Documentary Podcast County lines: Girl drug runners in the UK
Dec 19, 2019
Explore the dark world of 'county lines' drug trade in the UK, where vulnerable young girls are manipulated into trafficking drugs with weapons like knives and acid. Hear the harrowing stories of girls caught in sexual violence and drug running, trapped in a dangerous cycle of criminal activities. Learn about efforts to disrupt criminal networks and provide support for these exploited individuals.
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Girl Joins Gang After Sexual Assault
- Danielle was raped at 15 and then joined a county line gang for protection, becoming a girlfriend to a senior figure and preparing heroin and crack in her home.
- She described seeing up to £80,000 a month in cash, counting money like a film, while performing tasks to feel useful and safe.
Twelve Year Old Selling Drugs To Feed Family
- Zoe started selling crack and heroin locally from about age 12, cycling around neighbourhoods where adults assumed she was playing.
- She sometimes got paid in weed, was locked in flats and had drugs taken, yet used earnings to buy food for her family.
Community Normalisation Drives Recruitment
- Young women join county lines because drug dealing is normalised in their communities and offers status, money, and protection.
- Roles span laundering money, holding weapons, distributing drugs, and even being trapped in 'trap houses'.