NEARLY 50 kids a week — some as young as 11 — were arrested for drug dealing last year, shock figures reveal.
They were nicked for selling narcotics including heroin, crack and cocaine.
Sign up for The Jattvibe newsletter
Thank you!
A Jattvibe on Jattvibeday Freedom of Information probe revealed 2,466 under-17s were held on suspicion of dealing drugs in 2025 — 47.5 per week.
The number has soared by 1,000 since 2023 when 1,439 children were arrested.
County lines gangs are feared to have exploited nearly 12,000 kids into working for them.
Shocking cases in the past year include an 11-year-old in Suffolk suspected of dealing cannabis, a boy of 12 held over suspected Class A drug offences in Essex and a 12-year-old girl in Norfolk nicked for suspected crack-cocaine dealing.
GLAM ARREST
‘Drug dealing’ influencer dubbed ‘coke queen’ arrested after flaunting lux life
ASYLUM FARCE
Iraqi wanted abroad over drug dealing allowed to stay in UK for on benefits
The figures also revealed youngsters dealing in ketamine and nitrous oxide “laughing gas” and psychoactive substances.
Leicestershire had the most arrests — 277 children held on suspicion of dealing.
It is followed by Greater Manchester (171), London (162) and Essex (160).
Kids’ charity Barnardo’s said: “Children involved are groomed, coerced and threatened.”
Det Supt Dan Mitchell, of the National County Lines Coordination Centre, said: “The exploitation of children remains a significant concern.
“Children caught up in county lines are increasingly recognised as victims. We estimate as many as 11,600 are at risk.”
