The media operating in Scotland have loved Scotland getting to this ‘world-cup’ of global celebrity drug barons ‘masterminding hits’ on other global celebrity drug barons and the associated relatively minor collateral violence back home in Scotland.
As that peaked in the summer of 2025, the Telegraph had:
A wave of violence The flames have been there for all to see. Over six weeks in March and April, there were more than a dozen arson attacks in the two cities, with cars, homes, garages and businesses set alight. In other incidents, shots have been fired and two people, a pensioner and a 12-year-old boy, seriously assaulted by men wearing masks.
I’m not for a minute doubting the trauma for those affected but these events are relatively local and minor compared with this:
From the The National Police Chief’s Council in October 2025:
County Lines is the supply of drugs at the retail end of the market, where violence and exploitation are an intrinsic part of the model. These lines continue to impact the entirety of England, Scotland and Wales.….The top impacted forces (importer) this year are Cheshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Scotland and South Wales.
The Lyons gang is not selling drugs to thousands of youngsters in your town or threatening them with extreme violence. They’re on a different level.
These people are everywhere:
In October 2025, The National Police Chief’s Council reported:
Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales. In October 2025, The National Police Chief’s Council reported:
Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales.
So, 6 500 over the country, Scotland more impacted by the trade than some other parts and 12 in Inverness alone? At least 600 probably more county lines across Scotland?
In case you’ve not been here before, what are County Lines gangs?
From Police Scotland in July 2025:
County Lines drug dealers from larger cities expand their criminal activity into smaller communities to exploit young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, carry cash and weapons – bringing violence, coercion and abuse. They can also take over a vulnerable person’s house – known as cuckooing.
Where are all based?
England.
Why not the rest of the UK?
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are overwhelmingly importer areas rather than bases for the gangs running the lines. Gangs from the English cities above send runners, drugs, and sometimes take over properties (“cuckooing”).
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