Cuckooing is a form of criminal exploitation where a person or group, often involved in drug dealing or other illegal activities, takes over someone else’s home to use it as a base for their activities. The term comes from the cuckoo bird, which lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, pushing the original offspring out.

In cuckooing, vulnerable individuals—such as those with disabilities, mental health issues, addiction problems, or the elderly—are often targeted. The perpetrators might initially befriend or manipulate them, offering drugs, money, or other forms of support. Over time, however, the situation often escalates, and the resident may be threatened, intimidated, or forced out of their own home.

Authorities are increasingly aware of cuckooing as part of broader criminal exploitation, especially within “county lines” drug trafficking, where drug dealers expand their operations from cities into smaller towns or rural areas. Law enforcement agencies work to identify and support vulnerable victims while tackling the networks involved in these practices.