Street
county lines
What does county lines mean?
County lines is a model of drug dealing in which gangs use a dedicated mobile 'line' to sell drugs across regions, often exploiting children and vulnerable people as couriers.
"He was recruited into a county lines operation and sent to a coastal town to deal."
Origin
UK criminal-justice term, 2010s; the 'line' is the phone number used to take orders.
Frequently asked questions
What are 'county lines'?
A drug-dealing model where gangs use a dedicated mobile phone 'line' to sell drugs from cities into smaller towns, often exploiting children and vulnerable people as couriers.
Why is it called 'county lines'?
The 'line' refers to the dedicated phone number used to take drug orders, which operates across county boundaries.
Where does the term come from?
It's a UK criminal-justice term that came into wide use in the 2010s.
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