Crackdown on drugs being smuggled through the post in the North East
Crimestoppers are working with Northumbria and Durham police forces
Crimestoppers has launched a campaign to encourage the public in the North East to speak up about illegal drugs arriving via postal delivery services.
The independent charity is working with Northumbria and Durham police forces and is raising awareness in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Darlington.
Fleur Brown, North East Regional Manager at Crimestoppers, said: “Drug trafficking is a major source of revenue for organised crime groups, many of which are involved in other forms of serious crime. It directly leads to increased violent crime and the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults by criminals. We can all play a part in looking out for and reporting signs of drug activity in our community.
"We are appealing to the public to speak up to our charity, 100% anonymously, about who is ordering drugs into the country, how the purchasing is carried out, and whose properties are being used for delivery.”
Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael of Northumbria Police, said:
“Organised crime can devastate communities. It is fuelled by greed, sustained by fear and leaves behind a trail of violence, exploitation, and shattered lives. Disruption of these criminal networks is crucial in keeping our communities safe.
It is vital that we continue our work so those groups involved in this criminality can no longer operate. We will continue to do all we can to identify suspects and bring anyone found responsible to justice.”
DCI Marc Michael urged anyone with information to target this type of criminality to come forward and reminded the public they can do so completely anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Criminals sending drugs through post
Crimstoppers say criminals are ordering illegal drugs online, arranging for them to be delivered directly to homes and businesses via postal delivery services. Illegal drugs are being imported in this way and pose a serious threat to communities.
Importing drugs - even those that may be legal in the country of purchase but are illegal in the UK - is a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence. Vulnerable people are often coerced into using their home addresses to receive these parcels, which are then collected by others or by the criminals themselves. For tenants, this could put their tenancy at risk, as housing providers may remove people from their home if illegal activity is discovered.
There are also significant dangers associated with purchasing drugs and prescription medication illegally. These substances can be fatal, as there is no way of knowing what they truly contain.
Illegal drugs fuel organised crime, which leads to violence and the exploitation of the young and vulnerable across communities. Drug dealing has a big impact on local communities, directly leading to increased crime.
Public being urged to speak up and pass on information
Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is encouraging the public to speak up and pass on information about crime 100% anonymously.
Your information could help answer questions such as:
• Who is arranging for parcels containing drugs to be posted into the UK?
• Do you know someone being coerced to receive or collect parcels for others? Who is behind this, and how is it organised? Is social media involved, and if so, which platform?
• Which websites or social media platforms are being used to purchase drugs from overseas?
• Has someone come to your door asking about parcels you weren’t expecting? Do you know who they are?
Detailed anonymous community information plays a major role in stopping crime. Even if you think it’s insignificant, it could prove to be a vital piece of the puzzle.
To report crime 100% anonymously, visit the charity’s website and fill in a secure anonymous online form or call their 24/7 UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, 365 days of the year. In an emergency, always call 999.
Please note: Computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. For telephone calls, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and the charity has never traced a call.