DRUG dealers are one of the scourges of modern society. They wreak untold damage to people’s lives and are a massive contributor to a whole range of crimes.

The latest ruse of these evil predators is to recruit teenagers as heroin runners.

They are enticing teens with cash – around £20 a day - and designer clothing.

They are being selected simply because they are more likely to remain on the streets even after their arrest because they tend to get bail or more lenient sentences.

The new tactics by dealers were revealed at the sentencing of a 16-year-old Burnley boy, who was arrested three times for operating as a courier.

It is typical of their base morality that these dealers should hide behind naive youngsters, using them as a shield for their own wicked criminal activities.

The fight against drug dealers has arguably been the main challenge of modern police forces for some time now.

This latest tactic needs to be met with even greater determination by our law enforcers.

Meanwhile the message to teenagers has to be to steer well clear of this evil menace - no matter what the temptation might be.