A gang of hardened drug dealers who groomed and trafficked a 14-year-old boy to sell heroin on the streets were taken down when police seized his phone.
In a change of approach, the teenager, who refused to answer questions or co-operate, was treated as a victim of modern slavery rather than a youth offender and an investigation was launched into how he ended up selling heroin and cocaine on the streets.
The boy was arrested in Rhyl, North Wales, in February, 2021, as part of a major undercover investigation by North Wales Police into an out-of-town drugs ring known locally as the 'TJ Line'. The boy was found to have £2,500 worth of heroin and crack cocaine in his possession after selling a wrap to an undercover officer for £20.
