| Founded | Late 1990s |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Woolwich, London, England |
| Years active | 1990sāpresent |
| Territory | Woolwich |
| Ethnicity | Predominantly Somali |
| Membership (est.) | 300 |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, murder, robbery, contract killing, attempted murder |
The Woolwich Boys is an organized street gang based in Woolwich, South London.
History
The Woolwich Boys emerged in and are named after the Woolwich neighborhood in South London.[1][2] Starting as a youth gang, mainly active in street crime, the Woolwich Boys are alleged to have grown into a well-structured criminal organization mainly involved in drug trafficking and contract killing.[3] Younger offshoots of the gang like the so-called Younger Woolwich Boys are mostly active in violent street crime,[4] while older members are known for operating large cocaine-trafficking rings.[5] The Woolwich Boys are said to be highly active in the contract killing business as well, operating small hit squads involved in the taxing and occasional killing of rival drug traffickers and targets. Cleavers, as well as AK-47's are said to have been used.[3]
In 2007, younger members of the gang fought a turf war in Woolwich with rival youths.[4] Due to heightened police pressure in the London area, the group had by early 2013 begun moving its operations outside of the city. In August 2013, police launched dawn raids in the Greenwich borough and Gillingham on the outskirts of London, breaking up a new drug distribution set up there by alleged gang members.[5]
References
- ā 'Shootings' and 'machete attack' in south east London: live - Telegraph
- ā Daily Telegraph Reporters (23 May 2013). "'Soldier beheaded' in Woolwich machete attack: as it happened". www.telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- 1 2 "Issue 428". Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
- 1 2 "Gangs in turf war". News Shopper. High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Newsquest Media Group Ltd. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- 1 2 Christie, Sam (28 August 2013). "PICTURED: Dawn raids on crack cocaine ring with links to Woolwich Boys gang". News Shopper. High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 6 February 2022.