Coronavirus: County lines drug dealers ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ during lockdown, say police – The Independent

Posted April 20th, 2020 in children, coronavirus, criminal justice, drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, news by tracey

‘The coronavirus pandemic could provide an unexpected opportunity for police forces to tackle county lines drug dealing as the lockdown means criminals “stick out like a sore thumb”, senior officers have said.’

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The Independent, 20th April 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lewis Graham: Life Sentences under the Convention: Law or Politics? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Sometimes cases stand for far more than their strict ratio decidendi. The High Court’s recent ruling in Hafeez v Secretary of State for the Home Department is a prime example of such a case. The facts are simple. The US sought from the UK the extradition of Mr Hafeez, the alleged leader of an international crime syndicate and so-called “Sultan of drugs”. Unsurprisingly, Mr Hafeez resisted that motion, claiming that were he to be extradited, he would in all likelihood be sentenced to life without parole in the US, which would breach his rights under the ECHR. The UK, he argued, would be complicit in breaching his rights were it to proceed with the extradition. The High Court was to determine whether this was in fact the case.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 3rd April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Wiltshire woman jailed for smuggling crystal meth in dolls – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2020 in drug offences, drug trafficking, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who helped smuggle crystal meth with a street value of nearly £1m into the UK disguised as dolls and coffee beans has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 19th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appellant fails in challenge to closure order barring him from accessing his flat – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 26th, 2020 in appeals, drug offences, drug trafficking, housing, local government, news by sally

‘An appellant has lost his appeal over a closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 that meant he was barred from accessing his flat.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

British woman repeatedly trafficked for sex after Home Office failures – The Guardian

‘A young and highly vulnerable British sex trafficking victim was re-trafficked by county lines drug gangs on multiple occasions after the Home Office repeatedly refused to fulfil its legal obligation to provide her with safe accommodation.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cocaine seizure: Men jailed after 750kg haul found on boat – BBC News

Posted January 27th, 2020 in drug offences, drug trafficking, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘Two men have been jailed for conspiracy to import cocaine after one of the largest hauls of the drug in UK history was found on board a boat.’

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BBC News, 27th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison counsellor jailed for smuggling drugs after inmates threatened him to become courier – Daily Telegraph

‘A prison counsellor has been jailed for smuggling drugs inside a jail after he was threatened by inmates to become a courier when he scuppered their deals.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Disjointed’ policing hampering efforts to tackle county lines exploitation, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted January 10th, 2020 in children, drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, news, ombudsmen, police, young offenders by tracey

‘Disjointed policing and a lack of coordination between forces are worsening the issue of county lines drugs gangs exploiting children, a government watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 10th January 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

County lines: Call to review ‘criminal abuse’ of pay-as-you-go phones – BBC News

‘The government has been urged to consider imposing restrictions on pay-as-you-go mobile phones to prevent county lines drug gangs using them.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Young victims of trafficking—prosecution or protection? – Counsel

‘The growth in ‘county lines’ cases involving young defendants, themselves victims of trafficking, poses particular issues: practical steps that may assist practitioners and recent case law principles.’

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Counsel, January 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Ayoub Majdouline jailed for murder of 14-year-old Jaden Moodie – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2019 in drug trafficking, gangs, murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘A teenager has been sentenced to life imprisonment for being part of a gang who hunted down and stabbed 14-year-old Jaden Moodie in in an attack linked to a drug feud.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Modern slave’, 19, convicted of murder of Jaden Moodie, 14 – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2019 in drug trafficking, gangs, murder, news, offensive weapons by tracey

‘A teenager who had been classed as a “modern slave” has been convicted of murdering a child as part of a drugs feud.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Silent Victims – The Damaging Impact of the UK Drug Trade on the Environment – 25 Bedford Row

Posted November 26th, 2019 in drug trafficking, environmental protection, news by sally

‘Drug trafficking, and tackling it, includes practices which are costly to the UK’s natural habitat—from drug-fuelled deforestation to drug-plant eradication—yet it remains an underexplored issue. A recent study has highlighted the environmental damage caused by the narcotics trade, showing traces of cocaine and other illegal drugs in marine life in UK rivers. Rudi Fortson QC, barrister at 25 Bedford Row and visiting Professor of Law at Queen Mary University of London, outlines the legislation (or lack of) responsible for protecting the environment against illegal activity and how things could be improved.’

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25 Bedford Row, 7th November 2019

Source: www.25bedfordrow.com

More than 20 drug dealers prosecuted after complaints from residents – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 21st, 2019 in complaints, conspiracy, drug offences, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by tracey

‘More than 20 drug dealers have successfully been prosecuted as a result of a police investigation which followed complaints about drug dealing from local residents in Tower Hamlets and Hackney.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 18th November 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Illegal steroid operation gang jailed over £65m distribution – BBC News

Posted November 15th, 2019 in conspiracy, drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A group of men who ran an operation worth more than £65m distributing illegal steroids have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 14th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-footballer exploited teenagers to sell heroin and crack in ‘highly organised’ county lines drug ring – The Independent

Posted November 8th, 2019 in conspiracy, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A former footballer who masterminded a “highly organised” county lines drugs operation, exploiting teenagers to deal heroin and crack cocaine, has been jailed for 10 years.’

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The Independent, 7th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gang member jailed for 15 years for ‘ride-out’ and running drugs line from prison – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A member of one of Waltham Forest’s organised crime groups who took part in ‘ride-out’ against a rival gang before going on to run a drugs line from inside prison, has been jailed for 15 years.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 11th October 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Number of British modern slavery victims up 72% in a year, figures show – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2019 in children, drug trafficking, forced labour, gangs, news, statistics by tracey

‘The number of British people identified as modern slavery victims has surged by 72 per cent in a year, according to figures, fuelling concerns about “county lines” drugs gangs and other forms of labour exploitation.’

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The Independent, 14th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drug addicts to receive diamorphine twice a day in UK-first scheme – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2019 in crime prevention, drug abuse, drug trafficking, medical treatment, news by tracey

‘Drug addicts in the north of England are to receive daily doses of diamorphine from next week as part of plans to reduce deaths, stop crime and undermine drug dealers.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Magistrates raise concerns over county lines defence ‘loophole’ – The Guardian

‘A legal defence for children who claim they are being exploited by county lines drug gangs needs to be monitored more closely, the Magistrates’ Association has warned.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com