Southend: Drug dealer jailed after enlisting children

A man who employed children to run crack cocaine and heroin has been jailed after an investigation led by teams dedicated to busting drug dealing gangs.

Our Operation Raptor officers, who target county lines selling Class A drugs in Essex, secured a conviction against 24-year-old Liam Atkins.

Atkins was linked to the ‘Pedro’ drugs line, which was identified following the review of a Class A drug user’s telephone.

It was found to be supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Southend from 23 October 2023.

Raptor’s investigation into the line encompassed analysis of CCTV, surveillance of those involved and analysis of mobile telephones.

Throughout the investigation, it was identified two children had been enlisted to work for the line.

On Tuesday 23 January, a warrant was executed at Atkins’ address in Ashanti Close, Shoeburyness.

Atkins was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Cash was seized along with the drug line phone.

On his personal phone, officers found messages relating to sourcing juveniles to run drugs for the operation.

Atkins was charged with and admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

Basildon Crown Court was told Atkins had actively tried to recruit young people into the operation.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday 28 June, the court heard Atkins had sole control of the line across the period of the police investigation.

It was accepted, although others may have been involved at a level above Atkins, he held a management role in the operation.

It was taken as an aggravating factor that he used children to deliver drugs.

Atkins was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

'This is the cruel reality'

Acting Detective Inspector Rob Maile, of Op Raptor South, said: 

“A common feature we find time and time again in these cases is the distancing of those at the top of the line from the active running and selling of drugs on the street.
“The dangerous and risky work is undertaken by those they can either exploit or enlist with the, often false, promise of financial gain or reward.
“Sadly, this often leads to the recruitment of children, who are either easily influenced or coerced into working with those holding the drug line phone.
“We are working hard to address this cruel reality. We have specialist safeguarding officers within Operation Raptor, who work with education and criminal justice partners to identify those being exploited.
“Children coerced or threatened into running drugs for lines like the ‘Pedro’ line will be treated as victims.
“Those committed to criminality and exploiting others will be dealt with using the full powers available to us.
“The courts rightly take a strict stance on those involved in organised drug dealing.”

Are you worried that a friend or someone you know may be being exploited through County Lines or organised criminal activity?

Maybe they are returning home late, staying out all night or even going missing for days or weeks at a time.

Are they suddenly being secretive about who they are talking to or where they are going?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money on them, or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.

Through Fearless, young people can pass on information 100% anonymously to get help.

If you need help from police, call 101 or, if it's an emergency, always call 999.

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