Investigation
DEAL-IVEROO
We bought cocaine off Gumtree – and it was delivered faster than a pizza
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DRUG dealers are taking orders for dangerous high purity cocaine on Gumtree before hand delivering it in just a few hours, a Sun Online investigation has found.
The illegal service can be found in seconds simply by searching slang names for the Class A drug - with dealers available to meet "24/7".
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One dealer boasted he could be with our reporter in 25 minutes - quicker than getting a pizza delivered.
And our reporter picked up a gram of 75 per cent purity cocaine in just a few hours in broad daylight in South East London after contacting a seller on Gumtree.
Smartly-dressed dealer "Alpha" boasted to us after making the deal: "It's London innit. You can find anything online now, that's the thing."
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Cocaine use has doubled in Britain in the last five years, with more than a million Brits putting their lives on the line by using it in the last year.
The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign to raise awareness of the devastating impact even casual cocaine use can have on mental health.
Doctors have warned a flood of cheap and potent cocaine into the UK is fuelling suicide rates.
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We contacted Alpha using Gumtree's messaging service after finding his ad flogging coke for £60 in London.
The ad boasted: "Sniff delivered to you 24/7. LONDON Only."
After exchanging a dozen messages, our dealer Alpha agreed to meet at 1pm outside busy Bermondsey Tube station.
Within seconds of meeting in front of commuters, our reporter had handed over the cash in exchange for a gram of cocaine with a handshake.
Alpha said selling drugs on Gumtree is "24 hour" - and he can easily jump on the Tube to meet punters at whatever time they want.
But the dealer admitted he is scared of "undercover cops" when meeting customers face-to-face.
The investigation comes just one year after The Sun managed to buy nearly five grams of cocaine on Gumtree and Craigslist.
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End Of The Line
Cocaine use is reaching epidemic levels in Britain, with the UK branded the ‘Coke capital’ of Europe.
Use has doubled in the last five years, and with young people the numbers are even worse.
A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year.
That’s why The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign, calling for more awareness around the drug.
Cocaine use can cause mental health problems such as anxiety and paranoia, while doctors have linked the rise in cheap, potent coke to an increase in suicide rates.
People from all walks of life, from builders and labourers to celebrities like Jeremy McConnell – who is backing our campaign – have fallen foul of its lure.
It’s an issue that is sweeping the UK and, unless its tackled now, means a mental health crisis is imminent.
US-based Craigslist made £500million in 2016 from paid-for ads, while Gumtree is owned by eBay.
A quick search on the For Sale section of Craigslist threw up pictures of cocaine being advertised as designer handbags and TV cupboards.
Their ads are occasionally removed from the websites but only when flagged by other users.
We took our cocaine sample to top lab TICTAC Communications and found the drug had a purity of 75.9 per cent.
Results showed it was cut with no other substances other than several sugars, which are commonly used to dilute the drug, giving dealers more product to sell.
High purity cocaine flooding the streets
COCAINE has become stronger and cheaper in recent years after a government crackdown on cutting agents used by dealers.
The sample bought by our undercover reporter was of a high purity, lab testers found.
One reason for the surge in cocaine strength is the 2015 Serious Crime Act, which gives police powers to seize and destroy chemicals used to cut drugs.
Dealers responded by supplying stronger drugs in smaller quantities, which are easier to ship.
It has also led to a price war — we paid as little as £40 a gram when years ago the price was closer to £100. This is being blamed for a spike in gang-related violence.
The Office of National Statistics said it might be explained by “a significant increase in both crack and powder cocaine purity”.
The surge has also partly been blamed on the availability of drugs online - with dealers forced to use high purity cocaine to beat the market as buyers leave reviews.
In years gone by purity was usually around 20 per cent but most are now up to 80 per cent pure and easily available to buy on the street.
Potent cocaine - such as the sample we purchased - can land users in hospital and in some cases even kill.
Users are regularly rushed to A&E suffering from panic, anxiety and chest pain and find it difficult to breathe - the symptoms of an overdose.
Last year, East Sussex blamed two deaths on super-strength cocaine that was found to be 100 per cent pure.
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Why high purity cocaine can be more dangerous
Harry Sumnall, a professor in substance use at the Public Health Institute, explained: "In the UK, analysis of cocaine seized by the police on the streets, or by customs officers on the border has found cocaine as high as 95 per cent purity.
"Increased availability of higher purity cocaine means that your average gram is less likely to contain harmful bulking agents or substitute chemicals, but when it comes to cocaine through, purer doesn’t necessary mean safer.
"Although anyone can experience harms from cocaine use, in general these are related to the purity of the substance, amount taken, and how often it is taken.
"Purity is important because although it might seem people are getting better value for money a purer drug means stronger effects at the same dose. With cocaine, apart from its illegality, the main risk are effects on the heart.
"A higher purity drug can lead to a rapid increase in heart rate and a dangerous increase in blood pressure. Although rare, some people have even suffered a stroke as a result of this.
"Cocaine also affects mood, and as the dose increases, people are more likely to feel anxious, paranoid, or experience a panic attack.
"There may also be longer term risks. If people know that they can buy higher purity cocaine for the same price, they may be more likely to use it more frequently over extended periods of time. This amplifies the physical risks, and frequent use can begin to interfere with work, family life, and relationships, or increases the chances of getting caught up with the police."
The surge in dangerous drugs has been partly blamed on the availability of cocaine online - with users leaving reviews forcing dealers to make sure the product is as pure as possible.
Coca-leaf production in South America has also drastically increased since 2012 - meaning criminal gangs can now offer a higher-purity drug, and still make a big profit without raising prices.
Shocking research this year revealed social media apps were increasingly being used by young people to buy illegal drugs.
The study by Royal Holloway found drug users valued the convenience and speed of buying drugs via apps such as Snapchat.
A survey of 358 users found 288 had used apps to buy drugs and 70 who had thought about it - with most citing speed and convenience as the reason for buying online.
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Gumtree said: "We do not permit the sale of illegal items and are exceptionally disappointed to see that a very small minority of users are attempting to bypass our rules and systems in this way.
"We work closely with the police and other enforcement organisations to share information, support their investigations and stamp out illegal activity on our site.
"We have millions of people who use the site legally and successfully every day to buy and sell, and we urge anyone who comes across a suspicious ad to report it to us immediately – via the prominent ‘report ad button’ or by contacting our customer services team – so that we can take action such as removing the ad, blocking the offender and reporting them to police."
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