Detectives have launched a modern slavery investigation after a 16-year-old boy was stopped carrying drugs, cash, and a burner phone at Swansea station. The teenager, intercepted on Wednesday 26 November, had 25 wraps of crack cocaine, £300 in cash, a small amount of cannabis, and two phones, one of which was a burner-style device. Authorities are now working to establish whether he was being exploited.

The discovery came during a two-day joint operation between British Transport Police (BTP) and South Wales Police (SWP), targeting County Lines drug supply across the south Wales railway network and surrounding areas. Officers in both uniform and plain clothes were deployed, supported by specialist resources including drug detection dogs and knife arches.

The operation also led to the seizure of 150 cannabis plants from a Swansea address and the arrest of a 41-year-old woman in Bridgend found with eight grams of crack cocaine. It is part of a wider effort to disrupt gangs using the railway system to move harmful drugs while safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

BTP Detective Superintendent David Udomhiaye said:

“No area or community is immune to County Lines drug supply, which is why intelligence-led operations like this are essential to disrupt gangs using the railway to peddle harmful drugs. Most importantly, safeguarding measures have been put in place for the teenage boy stopped at Swansea station carrying illicit cash and drugs. A thorough investigation led by our detectives is continuing at pace to identify if he is a victim of modern slavery. Our teams are on the railway every day in plain clothes and uniform arresting offenders and seizing drugs, dangerous weapons and cash profits from the hands of criminals.”

South Wales Police Detective Inspector Richard George added:

"South Wales Police is committed to dismantling the networks that exploit our communities through county lines drug supply. Our recent operation at Swansea train station highlights the importance of intelligence-led policing in disrupting criminal activities. We recognise that many young individuals caught in these situations may be victims of exploitation, and we are dedicated to safeguarding their welfare. Through collaboration with British Transport Police and specialised resources, we aim to protect the vulnerable while ensuring that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable. Together, we can create safer environments for everyone in our community."

The operation was organised by BTP’s Home Office-funded County Lines Taskforce, a specialist team focused on tackling drug supply on the railway and protecting children and vulnerable adults exploited by criminal gangs. The team includes experts in safeguarding and child exploitation, ensuring that anyone identified as being exploited receives the necessary support.

Image: British Transport Police