Man jailed as boy coerced into selling drugs

Keynaan Xuseen will be made subject of a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order

Police are warning about the dangers of child exploitation after a man who forced a child to repay debt by selling drugs was jailed.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy in Peterborough with £1,620 worth of class A drug wraps, a "zombie" knife and £421.80 in cash.

They discovered the boy, from London, had only been in the city a week and had been coerced by Keynaan Xuseen, 22.

Xuseen, of Western Road, Southall, Greater London, admitted drugs and exploitation offences at Cambridge Crown Court last month, and was jailed for three years. The boy was released without charge.

A boy was forced to carry a weapon as well as carrying and selling large amounts of heroin and crack cocaine

Cambridgeshire Police said Xuseen made numerous train journeys from London to Peterborough with the boy in the week prior to his arrest.

The boy was arrested in the city centre after CCTV operators witnessed what they suspected to be a drug deal.

Once he was in custody, police established he had only been in Peterborough for a week and was staying at a flat on Lincoln Road.

A search of the flat led officers to Xuseen and they discovered two burner phones and about £1,480 worth of crack cocaine.

'County lines'

Xuseen admitted to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to supply heroin.

He will be made subject of a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order on his release from prison after he admitted arranging or facilitating a person's travel for the purpose of exploitation.

Det Con Tracey Black said: "County lines nominals such as Xuseen often target young or vulnerable people. This boy was forced to carry a weapon and put himself in danger, carrying and selling large amounts of heroin and crack cocaine.

"We are relentless in our efforts to crack down on people like Xuseen who choose to exploit children and put them at risk."

Officers want anyone concerned about a child being exploited to contact them.