Nine people have been arrested and weapons have been seized as part of a "relentless" police probe into organised crime.
Officers carried out 68 stop searches, seized four vehicles and carried out an open land search on the Woodchurch estate in Birkenhead yesterday. Nine people were arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of a controlled drugs and possession of a weapon
The action came as part of Operation Presley, which aims disrupt criminality and protect those living in the area. Police recovered a "substantial" amount of drugs as well as a "zombie knife"; a type of large, bladed weapon inspired by zombie films.
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Among those arrested were:
• Peter Aaron Bradley, 42 of Church Road, Tranmere, who failed a roadside drug test and was arrested and charged with failing to provide a specimen at custody. He has been bailed and due to appear in court at a later date.
• A man tried to make off after a car was stop searched. The 20-year-old car passenger from Woodchurch was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a bladed article.
• Officers recovered packages which were discarded after a man made off on Walby Close when he saw officers in the area. The 22-year-old suspect from Woodchurch was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, cannabis. A further search of an address was conducted, and officers recovered further amounts of cannabis and drugs supply paraphrenia. The man has been released under investigation.
• Officers pursued a suspected stolen scrambler bike, and with the assistance of National Police Air Service the bike was recovered. Two 20-year-old men from Seacombe and Leasowe were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, drug driving and driving while disqualified. They are still in police custody.
• Officers stop searched a 17-year-old male on Ackers Road who was found to be in possession of cannabis. He was given a community resolution order and has been referred to support services.
• One hundred bags of suspected cocaine, large amounts of cannabis and more than £1,000 cash was seized after officers sighted suspicious activity in a car park and a vehicle was stopped searched. The driver, a 29-year-old man, from Edge Hill was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs. He is still in police custody.
• Further arrests were made in relation to drug driving offences.
Alan McKeon, Community Policing Inspector for Wirral, said: “This latest police operation yesterday is an ongoing disruption to target criminals involved in serious and organised crime on the Woodchurch estate. We recovered a substantial number of drugs which cause harm in our communities and are sold to fund criminality. Two bladed weapons have been taken off our streets for good, one of which was a zombie knife which was handed in to us for disposal.
“Enforcement operations like this illustrates that Merseyside Police will proactively tackle issues that matter most to residents on the Woodchurch estate and keep our streets safe. This supports the work we do every day of the year to tackle those who offend in our communities.
“Stop searches, warrants, land searches and arrests take place all year round, and in many instances it is thanks to the public tell us where there are issues in the community. If you have anti-social behaviour or criminality in your area let us know and we will take action.”
Anyone who has information about drug dealing in the community, where weapons are being stored or who is using them can contact police by sending a DM to @MerPolCC, calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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