Gangs use children as drug slaves

MORE children are falling victim to modern slavery – with county lines drug gangs fuelling the rise.

A near-record 3,140 people feared to be in the grip of gangmasters were referred for help in the three months to June.That number included 662 youngsters.

The Home Office, which collects the figures, revealed 77 per cent of the children were boys.

County lines drug gangs are urban criminal outfits that expand to small rural areas, often using vulnerable children as foot soldiers.

The Home Office said: “For those exploited as children, an increase in the identification of county lines cases has partially driven the increase in referrals within the criminal exploitation category.

“Often, the gangs exploit vulnerable individuals to transport substances, and mobile phone lines are used to communicate drug orders.”