The UK government plans to introduce a new UK drug trafficking law that will criminalise the act of coercing vulnerable people into concealing drugs or cash inside their bodies. Known as “plugging”, this tactic frequently appears in county lines drug crackdown cases, where gang leaders exploit children and adults for transporting illegal substances.

The proposed law, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, directly targets gang leaders who use plugging as a method of control. If convicted, offenders could face up to 10 years in prison. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips explained that the offence aims to stop the exploitation at its source by holding those in charge responsible.

Since July 2024, the government has committed £42 million to dismantling county lines operations. Police have charged over 800 gang members and shut down more than 1,200 drug lines through coordinated enforcement efforts. The new UK drug trafficking law builds on this progress by addressing how gangs operate and how they exploit the vulnerable.

Jack O’Neill from The Children’s Society stressed that children forced to carry drugs suffer from abuse and exploitation, not criminal behaviour. The law will help ensure these young people receive protection and support rather than punishment.

This county lines drug crackdown highlights the government’s continued efforts to reduce drug harm and safeguard those most at risk from criminal networks.

Source: dbrecoveryresources