Drug dealers turn to face masks and delivery driver high-vis vest as disguises

DRUG dealers are using rubber gloves and facemasks to keep coronavirus at bay while they deliver to self-isolating customers, writes Jon Austin.

Drug dealers are still operating in significant numbers despite the heightened chances of being arrested while outside due to the lack of other people.

They are even posing as key workers in high-vis vests to avoid being singled out by police. Prices are going up as wholesale importation becomes more difficult.

One county lines network has offered “lockdown deals to beat the boredom of quarantine” in mobile phone text messages which say they can deliver cocaine, heroin and MDMA across London.

A user in Essex said: “For me there has been no change. I just phone or text and a few minutes later he turns up with the goods.the only difference is he is now turning up in blue rubber gloves.”

A police source said dealers under surveillance had been seen on bikes wearing masks and gloves, but this could be in a bid to cover up their activities as much as it is about personal protection.

Street dealer Ali Abuarqub, 18, from Kensington, was arrested on April 10 with 28 wraps of crack cocaine and a wrap of cannabis on him plus £896 in cash. He admitted possession of drugs with intent to supply atwestminster magistrates’ court on Monday.

On April 9 Aaron Juuko, 21, from Colchester, was arrested in the town with large quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, plus cash.two days later he pleaded guilty to drug supply offences and was remanded in custody to be sentenced later. A second 21-year-old denied the same charges and awaits trial.

County lines is a violent drug dealing phenomenon whereby city gangs send runners out to country towns and coastal regions to sell drugs using mobile phone hotlines.

On March 31, police arrested a boy of 17 from Newham, east London, on suspicion of assault and supplying class A drugs in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. He was charged with possession with intent to supply quantities of cocaine and diamorphine.

Lynne Owens, head of the National

Crime Agency (NCA), urged dealers to stay inside like everyone else. “While they continue to deal, they significantly increase the risk of spreading the virus,” she said.

She said dealers were meeting customers in supermarket car parks, where there are more people, and posing as key workers, such as delivery drivers with high-vis vests.

She said: “We continue to monitor intelligence to ensure we are alert to any increase in county lines offending and can swiftly respond to keep children and vulnerable people safe.”

She said Britishtransport Police was on the lookout for children and youths using trains. “Since the pandemic began we have seized £300,000 in cash,” she said. “People should make sure children are not in contact with gangs that exploit them.”

While “deals” are still on offer, prices are soon expected to rise as it is getting harder for international cartels to get drugs across international borders and into the UK, due to lockdowns.

There have also been a series of high-profile drug seizures in the

UK, limiting supplies. Cocaine worth £1million was found inside a shipment of face masks ontuesday.

Border Force officers found 30lb of the drug when they stopped a Polish-registered van which was attempting to enter the UK via the Channel Tunnel.the Polish driver, 34, was arrested.

Ontuesday evening five people were arrested and cocaine worth £2million was seized in a drugs and money laundering investigation. NCA and Met Police officers found 44lb of cocaine in a van.

Detective Chief Inspectorvictoria

Sullivan said: “Even in these challenging times, the Met is committed to proactively targeting criminals, especially those involved in drugs and violence.”

The value of a kilo of cocaine is said to have risen from £36,000 to £40,000.

Ms Owens said: “We do see there are less drugs and therefore prices are rising.

“Cocaine has shown an increase in price, generally indicative that it is harder to get hold of. Some of that is because of the virus and the successes we have had and no doubt lockdowns in and near source countries and the reduction in transport has hampered the ability of crime gangs to move cocaine but there is no doubt they are still trying.”