Glasgow dealer jailed for exploiting schoolboy into selling drugs after preying on him at games arcade
Matteullah Siddiqi was jailed for almost seven years in one of the first convictions of its kind in Scotland.
A drug dealer has been jailed after exploiting a schoolboy into selling drugs for him in one of the first convictions of its kind in Scotland.
Matteullah Siddiqi, 20, preyed on the 14-year-old after meeting him at a games arcade at the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow last year.
The boy was forced to skip school and stay in dirty drug dens, where he was made to bag up crack cocaine for sale.
Siddiqi was jailed for six years and nine months on Tuesday (August 25) having admitted to the offence, under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act, at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, 20 July, 2026.
Detective Inspector Holly Swindells said: “This conviction was the result of working with our partners in Education and Social Work and the dedicated work of our officers.
“Siddiqi prayed on his victim and exploited him into carrying out criminality on his behalf. What was most worrying about this offence was that the victim was a child. This conviction should be a warning to anyone involved in the exploitation of others that using others to carry out your crimes will not be tolerated.
“We target those who abuse, control and exploit people and work with partners to bring offenders to justice, and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need.
“I would urge anyone who has any knowledge about where these types of crimes are happening or who may be involved to get in touch with Police Scotland on 101 or information can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”