Fears gangs could recruit children to perpetrate extreme violence 

Gardaí and youth workers are keeping a close eye on trends in Europe of children being recruited by drug gangs to carry out more senior distribution roles and acts of extreme violence, including murders. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gardaí and youth workers are keeping a close eye on trends in Europe of children being recruited by drug gangs to carry out more senior distribution roles and acts of extreme violence, including murders.

It follows the publication of an intelligence notification by Europol, the EU police agency, detailing the recruitment of minors to carry out tasks like managing drug warehouses and extracting drugs at importation stage.