A FORMER dealer who was locked up for shipping illegal substances with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds into South Cumbria every week has told his disturbing story about the drugs scene. 

Following a two-week police crackdown on illegal drugs in Barrow and Ulverston, the former dealer spoke to the Evening Mail to reveal how the industry operates across Furness. 

At his peak, the dealer, who we agreed not to name, was responsible for bringing 1kg of cocaine, 40,000 ecstasy pills and amphetamines worth £15,000 to the area every week. 

"Life as a dealer? It was life without consequences," the Barrow man said, while insisting there is "no glamour in being a drug dealer". 

He said: "It's pure arrogance. After doing it for 15 years you think you're never going to get caught."

The former dealer, who refused to sell what he refers to as "life-blocking drugs" such as heroin and crack cocaine, said substance abuse in Barrow is a major problem. 

He said: "For the last 20 years it has been more life-blocking drugs in Barrow, because of the deprivation.

"It’s all about heroin and crack cocaine in Barrow. I’m surprised there isn’t a crystal meth problem yet, they are life-blockers. 

"The big guys in Liverpool, Blackburn or Manchester send out foot soldiers to sniff out vulnerable people round here who will store stuff for them and sell it. They're then paid in either drugs or cash."

Recalling the "cat-and-mouse" games he would play with south Cumbria detectives, the dealer said he put a stop to his offending and turned his life around after he was jailed for a number of years for drugs offences. 

He says the police have a tough, and perhaps impossible, job on their hands.

He said: "It's not their fault, they just don't have the resources or the funding. They're not even scratching the surface. You need more security on the A590, automatic number plate recognition to flag up the cars coming from Liverpool or Manchester."

The former dealer admitted he misses his past life "every single day" but has made a promise to his family that he will never go back. He believes education is the key to tackling Barrow's drugs problem. 

"At school the message is just 'no'," he said. 

"But I'm honest with my kids, I tell them what it's like. The problem gets passed down from generation to generation. 

"You need to break that cycle. Basic drugs awareness should be taught in schools from the age of 10."


DI Jason McKenna Detective Inspector Jason McKenna from Barrow CID said police were committed to preventing and detecting organised drug crime. 

“ Tackling drug-related crime in South Cumbria is one of the main priorities for the constabulary and we carry out intelligence-led action through daily policing and dedicated operations to challenge and prevent drug related offences," DI McKenna said. 

"This action includes creating targeted action to prevent and detect organised drug crime which has proven to be very successful in arresting and convicting criminals. The force has dedicated officers who provide support with drug related crime and we are working with partners to tackle the issues we are faced with including working with schools to help educate and raise awareness of drug related incidents too. 

“We will continue to proactively prioritise drug crimes in the county and reiterate drug supplying will not be tolerated.”