More than 2,300 children – some as young as 12 and 13 – were arrested for drug trafficking last year – the worst strands revealed

MORE than 2,300 children – some as young as 12 and 13 – were arrested for drug trafficking last year.

Figures show at least 2,306 under-17s have been suspected of peddling drugs including crack, heroin and cocaine.

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Experts fear many have been exploited by drug gangs in the county lines.

In London, 488 were arrested. Among them were 13-year-olds suspected of dealing in crack, heroin and cocaine.

Hertfordshire Police arrested a 12-year-old boy suspected of selling cocaine and a 13-year-old girl suspected of dealing cannabis.

The West Midlands Force, which covers Birmingham, logged seven cases in which its officers arrested 13-year-old boys allegedly dealing in Class A drugs.

Officers in North Yorkshire arrested a 13-year-old boy believed to be selling Valium, a prescribed Class C drug.

In Lincolnshire police had suspects aged 13 who were believed to be selling cannabis and LSD, while West Mercia police had two cases of boys aged 13 allegedly dealing in cannabis.

Forty of the 44 police forces in England and Wales have responded to our Freedom of Information Inquiry.

The number of arrests has fallen from 2,908 in 2019, but this is believed to be due to lockdown measures.