POLICE arrested more than a dozen under-16s for drug-related offences last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

In 2025, Devon & Cornwall Police arrested 17 young persons aged sixteen or under for either supplying controlled drugs or possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, the FOI request shows.

Of the total number, all of whom were male, ten were arrested for Class A drugs, four for Class B, two for Class A and Class B and one for psychoactive substances.

Those arrested were either 15-years-old or 16-years-old.

None of those arrested were 13-years-old or under, the FOI request confirms.

Criminal networks use social media to groom and recruit children for county lines.

They may send them direct messages (knowns as ‘DMs’), or share messages to wider groups as ‘stories’ or ‘posts’.