Young girls exploited to carry drugs by county lines gangs using social media for recruitment

Summary

County lines exploitation has increasingly targeted young girls, with Georgina*, a 17-year-old, being coerced into drug transportation after being groomed online by an older man connected to criminal gangs. Grooming often begins with compliments, gifts, and social media contact before moving to encrypted apps, with perpetrators using psychological and sexual coercion to control victims. In 2026, charities reported a rise in the exploitation of girls, who are less likely to be stopped or suspected of criminal activity. A Freedom of Information request revealed children as young as 13 had been arrested for drug dealing, and two girls were jailed for murder in a county lines-related attack in January 2026. Catch 22 reported that 22% of their county lines rescue service clients in 2025 were female, and the charity noted a lack of National Referral Mechanisms for girls, despite many being victims of criminal exploitation. In response, Essex Police launched the Under The Radar project to support girls aged 11–24 at risk of exploitation.