Brazen drug dealers are using free-ads websites like Craigslist and Gumtree to sell Class A cocaine and ecstasy.
The criminals seem unconcerned about the risk of being caught as they post their phone numbers on the popular sites along with pictures of drugs.
The dealers boast about being able to deliver quickly, with others offering ‘loyalty deals’ and ‘discreet meet-ups’.
Drug dealers are using free-ad websites including Craigslist and Gumtree to sell class A drugs, sometimes disguising drugs offers in other ads that appear to be for other products
One advert on Craiglist states: ‘The Most Potent Buds & Highgrade Snow Flake ~ Charlie sheen ~ Cali Buds ~ Imported Hasheesh.
‘Discreet Meet Ups, On Point Product, Proffessional [sic] Service, Loyalty Deals!!’
One asks addicts to contact him through encrypted messaging app WhatsApp.
Another dealer on Craiglist, calling himself ‘Dank of London Deliveries’, offered ‘Charlie or green’, words for cocaine and cannabis.
The dealer added: ‘I have everything from grass too the special talcom powder, 9/10 quality. Give me a shout. Hide this posting.’
Tottenham MP David Lammy said drugs are now as easy to get in London as pizzas
Other adverts were disguised as genuine items for sale. One advert listed as a ‘guinea pig cage’, features a picture of cannabis, while another listed as a ‘Fender Rhodes’ piano states
‘We have the best weed, coke, MDMA and heroin.’
During an investigation by The Sun, one drug dealer told the newspaper the online ads websites are becoming ‘the only way’ to sell drugs in the capital.
It comes after Tottenham MP David Lammy warned buying drugs in the capital was becoming as easy as ordering a pizza.
He said competition between dealers was leading to the spiralling of violence which has seen more than 60 people killed in London this year.
Speaking earlier this month, Mr Lammy said: ‘What drives the gangs and the turf wars is an £11billion cocaine drugs market.
‘I’m hearing nothing about what we’re going to do about that rising drugs market. Drugs are prolific. It’s like Deliveroo – they’re as prolific as ordering a pizza.
‘You can get them on Snapchat, WhatsApp. That in the end is driving the turf war and is driving the culture of violence.’
Two men were arrested on Saturday after a knife fight outside Tooting Bec Underground station in south London.
A man died in Finsbury Park this weekend in the latest violence in the capital. Police have not said whether they believe the death was drug or gang related
Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday, a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death in Finsbury Park, north London, ‘involving a number of other people’, the Met said.
Police have not said whether the latest violence is thought to be drug-related.
A spokesperson for Gumtree said: ‘We have millions of listings and visitors every day who use the site legally to buy and sell, so it’s disappointing to see a very small minority use it in this way.
‘We do not permit the sale of illegal items and are always working to keep up with latest tactics to stop such activity.
‘We also have a dedicated Trust & Safety team who remove ads that break our rules and works closely with the police, sharing information and supporting any investigations.
‘We urge anyone who comes across a suspicious ad to report it to us immediately to help keep the site safe.’