Cuckooing: The gangs taking over vulnerable people’s homes to sell drugs

Could you spot the signs that a gang has taken over a home on your street to sell drugs?

Dyfed-Powys Police is highlighting the signs and impact of a crime known as cuckooing as part of its INTACT campaign after dealing with 31 cases in the past five months.

Cuckooing is the exploitation of vulnerable people – most often drug users – by criminals who use their homes as a base, gaining access through intimidation of the victim or in exchange for drugs.

It is a practice closely linked with county lines operations where organised crime gangs (OCGs) travel to different parts of the country to sell drugs, often using vulnerable youngsters as mules and dealers.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Cotterell said: “We recognise county lines as a serious threat, and we highlight successful warrants and prosecutions wherever possible to assure our communities that we are taking action to combat this activity.

“However, we don’t believe there is a great deal of awareness around the cuckooing aspect of county lines, what it involves and the impact it can have on a victim and the wider community.

“We are hoping to educate people about the signs of cuckooing and increase people’s confidence to report unusual behaviour they believe could be linked to drugs supply.”

Cuckooing involves a drugs runner being sent to a particular area by an OCG with supplies of illegal substances to last a number of days.

Officers explain that the runner is often a young person who is also taken advantage of by the gang.

Once a runner is identified, contact is made with someone in the area being targeted who will have a list of local drug users and addresses. This middle person will find a property the runner can operate out of while they are in that area.

DCI Cotterell explained: “What we find with the runners is that the OCG will target someone vulnerable, usually a youngster who is looking for something to do on the street.

“They might offer them drugs – starting with cannabis – seemingly at no cost – but will then say they owe them for it. Or they shower the youngster with praise to build their self-esteem and give them gifts so they feel a sense of loyalty and brotherhood.

“That’s when they’ll send them out to deal drugs from someone else’s property. They’ll come down for two or three days with enough drugs to last and will then leave.”

The occupant of the property will be offered discounted drugs or a few free ‘hits’ as payment for being able to stay there.

Since November 2020, there have been 31 recorded cases of cuckooing in the Dyfed-Powys Police area – although it is believed the true number is likely to be higher as there is known to be an element of under-reporting the offence among police forces across the UK.

Teams also face the difficulty of cuckooing victims not seeing themselves as having been taken advantage of as they will have gained from housing a drugs runner in some way.

DCI Cotterell said: “It’s not very well covered up when you arrive at a cuckooed property. Generally, they prey on vulnerable people with a drug addiction, and they’ll be living in poor conditions.

“You don’t have to look too far to know that the property is being used for the use and supply of drugs.

“However, the occupant will not usually see themselves as a victim of crime or will be reluctant to report it for fear of losing access to their drugs supply, facing eviction or the threat of violence from speaking out.

“This is why we want to highlight this crime, to educate communities and professionals to know how to spot the signs of cuckooing so we can intervene at the earliest opportunity.”

READ MORE: 'Drug dealers used me like a dog', police share two cuckooing case studies