Recovering addicts bombarded by messages from dealers trying to lure them back with deals

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 13, 2026

Recovering drug addicts in Scotland are being aggressively targeted with unsolicited drug offers and courier job advertisements through encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, despite efforts to block these contacts. This trend highlights how organized dealers exploit digital platforms to bypass traditional drug distribution methods, complicating recovery efforts and law enforcement strategies.

Recovering drug addicts in Scotland are facing increasing challenges as they are targeted with unsolicited messages from dealers offering cocaine and other illicit substances, according to reports from those affected and an investigation into the trend. Dealers are reportedly using encrypted messaging apps and social media platforms to send persistent advertising and even job offers for drug couriers directly to vulnerable individuals’ phones, despite repeated attempts to block the senders.

The messages, which are frequently routed through ever-changing phone numbers often linked to Pakistan, employ a variety of emojis as coded language to represent different drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine. In addition to product promotions, some communications include voucher-style discounts and “new stock alerts,” resembling marketing strategies typically associated with legitimate businesses.

One recovering addict in his 40s described the difficulty of maintaining sobriety amid the barrage of texts. He said dealers continually send hard-sell adverts that reappear under new numbers after he blocks them, creating a constant temptation. “It’s the kind of sales tactics you would expect from big corporate brands,” he remarked.

The investigation also uncovered brazen recruitment efforts on platforms like Telegram, where dealers advertise high-paying jobs as drug couriers, promising earnings of up to £100,000 annually. The work schedules advertised include eight-hour shifts with compensation for fuel expenses. These job offers indicate an organized and open approach to expanding drug distribution networks.

Telegram, a Russian encrypted messaging app, along with other secure messaging services such as Signal and WhatsApp, are popular tools for dealers due to their privacy features, which enable anonymous cryptocurrency transactions and facilitate deliveries to public collection points. These points, often found at supermarkets and post offices, allow customers to retrieve packages without direct contact with the seller.

A second recovering user, a single father in his 30s from Glasgow, attributed a recent relapse to the ease of digitally accessing drugs. He highlighted the anonymity and convenience of online drug markets that eliminate the need for face-to-face encounters, thus reducing social barriers to obtaining substances.

Experts have described Telegram as a “dark web in your pocket” because organized criminal gangs use it to coordinate and conceal illicit activities. Authorities in France have launched investigations into the app as part of broader probes into cross-border organized crime.

The continued use of encrypted platforms and digital delivery methods poses significant challenges to law enforcement and recovery support efforts, underscoring the need for new strategies to address the evolving landscape of drug distribution and addiction recovery.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.