Two men involved in crack cocaine and heroin distribution, who exploited a vulnerable 15-year-old boy in the process, have been sentenced to a combined nine years in prison. This follows a swift and coordinated investigation between the Metropolitan Police (Met) and Cambridgeshire Police.
The sentencing highlights the Met’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from criminal exploitation and to strengthen community trust across London.
On Monday, July 15, 2024, David Rosa, 21, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four years and two months at Cambridge Crown Court after pleading guilty to drug supply charges and human trafficking. His co-defendant, Lamar Griffiths, 29, of Elizabeth Way, Harlow, received a four-year and 11-month sentence at the same court on Thursday, September 12, 2024, after also pleading guilty to the supply of Class A drugs.
The pair’s arrests followed an urgent investigation launched after officers located a missing 15-year-old boy in Peterborough on Wednesday, August 7, 2023. The boy was discovered at the home of a local drug user and was found to have been coerced into distributing drugs on behalf of Rosa and Griffiths.
Using data retrieved from the boy’s phone, officers were able to track the movements and operations of the two men, revealing their role in exploiting the teenager to push crack cocaine and heroin.
On August 9, 2023, Griffiths was apprehended at an address in Newmarket, Cambridge, where he attempted to dispose of drugs and his phone by throwing them out of a window. Meanwhile, Rosa was arrested at Cambridge station, having been tracked on a train from Peterborough.
Despite not providing testimony in the case, the 15-year-old boy was protected from charges and referred to safeguarding services. The investigation was carried out without his direct involvement, ensuring his protection from further trauma.
Police Constable Jack Hardwick, who led the investigation, praised the efforts of both police forces, saying, “Rescuing this vulnerable boy from the cruel hands of exploitative drug dealers was our top priority. The dedicated work of officers from the Met and Cambridgeshire Police has ensured that Griffiths and Rosa were brought to justice. This case sends a clear message to drug gangs who exploit vulnerable children – we will catch you, and you will face the consequences.”
The investigation was conducted by Operation Orochi, the Met’s Specialist Crime team focused on tackling county lines drug supply. The operation specifically targets high-harm offenders and works in close collaboration with regional police forces.
