Six people have been charged following a series of police raids in Merseyside yesterday.
Shortly before 7am on Thursday (August 25), doors went in at 11 addresses across the region as part of Operation Ground, which aims to combat organised crime in the Wirral area. The ECHO and other media were invited to attend one of the raids, on Newling Street, Birkenhead.
Six people have now been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following warrants carried out in locations in Birkenhead, Wallasey, Seacombe and Liverpool city centre.
READ MORE: Armed police raid flat linked to Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting
Those charged are:
- Carl Mello, 35, of Cheapside, Liverpool
- Adrian Reed, 55, of Fell Street, Seacombe
- Shaun Murphy, 32, who was produced from prison but is originally from Birkenhead
- James Duffy, 42, of Pembroke Court, Tranmere
- Michelle Johnson, 45, of Park Road South, Claughton
- Catherine O’Connor, 54, of Rice Lane, Seacombe
All were remanded to appear in court today. Eight other people were released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Speaking after yesterday's raids, Chris Green, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said: “We’ve been speaking to residents as the activity has been taking place and the vast majority of them are delighted to see this activity this morning because these individuals are toxic in the community.
"They drive intimidation, they drive violence, they drive worry, fear and harm. We want to take them out of the community and deal with them and take them to justice.
"This has been 12 months in the making and there are numerous operations every single day ongoing to tackle all of the different threats we have from serious and organised crime."
He added: "Whether that is dealing with knife crime, with gun crime, we’ve seen some significant reductions in the amount of firearm crime across Merseyside in the last four or five years. We know that one firearm discharge is one too many which is why we will continue to be relentless against anyone involved in organised crime."
Anyone who has information about drug dealing or criminality in their area is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
READ NEXT: Flowers and teddies left for 'Sassy Queen' Olivia Pratt-Korbel
'Kirkby legend' stabbed to death while 'trying to do the right thing'
Children hold hands as tributes grow for 'little angel' Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Child rapist who heckled victim in court jailed for 20 years
CCTV of car seen in road minutes before Ashley Dale was shot dead
