TWO crack cocaine and heroin dealers who exploited a vulnerable 15-year-old boy into distributing drugs have been sentenced to nine years of jail time following a Met investigation.

It comes as part of the Met’s efforts to protect vulnerable young children from being criminally exploited and build trust with communities across the capital.

On Monday, 15 July, David Rosa, 21 (26.11.02) of no fixed address was sentenced to four years and two months’ at Cambridge Crown Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and human trafficking.

Lamar Griffiths, 29 (04.07.95) of Elizabeth Way, Harlow was sentenced on Thursday, 12 September to four years and 11 months’ at Cambridge Crown Court. Griffiths had also pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

The arrest of Rosa and Griffiths followed a rapid investigation between Met officers and Cambridgeshire Police after they had located a missing 15-year-old boy in Peterborough on 7 August 2023. The boy was found staying in the address of a local drug user.

By analysing data from the boy’s phone, officers were able to reveal how Rosa and Griffiths had used the boy to distribute Class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin.

On 9 August 2023, Griffiths was arrested at an address in Newmarket, Cambridge where he was seen attempting to discard drugs and his phone from a bedroom window. Rosa was tracked on a train from Peterborough and arrested at Cambridge Station.

The investigation was conducted without any contribution from the 15-year-old child and who was not called as a witness. He was not charged with any offence and was referred to safeguarding services instead.

Police Constable Jack Hardwick, who led the investigation said: “Rescuing this vulnerable boy from the cruel hands of exploitative drug dealers was our top priority.

“Great credit is owed to the officers within the Met and Cambridgeshire Police whose dedicated, careful work led to Griffiths and Rosa’s arrests.

“It sends a message to drug gangs who exploit vulnerable children – we will catch you and we will bring you to justice.”

The investigation was carried out by officers from Operation Orochi. Operation Orochi is the Met’s Specialist Crime team dedicated to tackling high harm offenders involved in county lines drugs supply. The operation proactively targets London-based drug dealers, working in partnership with county police forces.

Drugs ruin lives – that’s why we are committed to transforming how we keep communities safe. Read more about how we are responding to local priorities with A New Met for London.