Thirteen people were arrested and a missing child safeguarded after a police operation targeting county lines drug dealing at Euston Station on Monday.
The day of action aimed at disrupting criminal gangs who exploit children into trafficking drugs and money also recovered more than £2,500 in cash, two knives, four burner phones and 40 wraps of Class A drugs.
The British Transport Police’s County Lines Taskforce, which led the operation, said it showed officers’ commitment to smashing gangs who smuggle drugs across geographical areas using ‘deal’ phonelines.
Officers said drug dealers commonly coerced vulnerable children into running drugs, weapons and money across areas, using both the lure of gifts as well as the threat of violent reprisals if they leave.
Urging rail staff and passengers at London’s major stations to “look closer” for signs of possible child exploitation, Det Supt Craig Payne said similar “robust” operations were taking place daily across the rail network.
“Sometimes you’ll spot us, sometimes you won’t,” he said.
“Through the deployment of targeted specialist resources, we will find those who exploit the vulnerable, arrest them and destroy their criminal enterprise.
“Our mission remains to identify and safeguard those who are being exploited and relentlessly pursue those who have targeted them.
“Anyone exploited by these gangs will be safeguarded and supported.
“We will not waver in our determination to stop the exploitation and associated harm caused by county lines gangs, making our communities and railways safer.”
As part of the operations, officers also gather intelligence into the gangs responsible to bring them to justice, Det Supt Payne said.
He stressed that exploited victims would be identified and safeguarded if found to have been coerced into the gangs.
Officers urged members of the public to report any concerns of county lines dealing on the rail network by texting the British Transport Police on 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.
