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BBCJun 8, 2026, 11:01 PM

'I was a prisoner in my home': Drug gangs 'cuckooing' hundreds of homes a week, police warn

UK police report hundreds of homes are being illegally occupied each week by drug gangs who exploit vulnerable residents for dealing and storage, a practice known as "cuckooing" that is set to become a specific criminal offense by year's end.

Jackie is sitting with her legs and arms crossed on a concrete wall with greenery behind her. She is wearing a pink T-shirt with a butterfly pattern on the front and pink shorts. Her blonde hair is pulled back in braids. She is wearing a watch and bracelets and is holding a pair of sunglasses in one hand.
Jackie is sitting with her legs and arms crossed on a concrete wall with greenery behind her. She is wearing a pink T-shirt with a butterfly pattern on the front and pink shorts. Her blonde hair is pulled back in braids. She is wearing a watch and bracelets and is holding a pair of sunglasses in one hand. — Photograph: BBC
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