Drug dealers in south Armagh are increasingly targeting vulnerable householders to have drugs delivered to their homes, a Newry & Armagh MLA has warned.
Sinn Féin’s Aoife Finnegan said she is “deeply concerned” at the growing use of so‑called “cuckooing” in local communities – a tactic where criminals exploit the homes of elderly or isolated people for illegal activity.
Her warning comes after the address of an elderly person in the area was allegedly used to receive a substantial drugs shipment.
“Recently the address of an elderly person was used to post a significant amount of cannabis,” Ms Finnegan said.
“The parcel of the drugs with a street value of £100,000 was posted to the home. Thankfully, family members realised that something wasn’t right about the parcel and contacted the authorities.”
Explaining the practice, the south Armagh representative continued: “The practice of drug dealers using a vulnerable person’s home to conduct illegal activity is known as cuckooing. Dealers often target elderly individuals or those who are socially isolated to use their properties.
“The brash tactic is being used more frequently by brazen, heartless criminals, especially with the transportation of cannabis.
“These peddlers of death and destruction within our communities care about nothing but making money.”
Ms Finnegan urged families and neighbours across south Armagh and beyond to be vigilant, saying this method is now a recognised way for dealers to get drugs delivered without using their own details or addresses.
“It is important that we are alert to these criminal activities of the drug dealers,” she said.
