Four county lines drug dealing gangs have been shut down after Merseyside police launched a crackdown.
The force's Project Medusa team which tackles county lines dealing carried out a week of raids and warrants from Monday, October 3 to Sunday, October 9. During the week 98 arrests were made, £27,000 in cash was seized and weapons were taken off the streets.
Officers say more than 2kg of class A drugs,175 cannabis plants and a high value bike were also seized. Suspected cuckooing addresses were also targeted and 15 young and otherwise vulnerable people safeguarded.
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Of the 98 arrests, charges include James Byott, 28, of Eric Street, Widnes who was arrested and charged with the supply of cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine. He will next appear for trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, November 3.
A 32-year-old woman was also arrested and released under investigation. Rebecca Gordon, 30, of Compton Road, Everton and Lee Thomas, 50, of no fixed address, were arrested and charged with the supply of cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis.
They will next appear for trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, November 1. Michael Size, 24, of Bolden Close, Netherton was arrested and charged with supplying cannabis following a warrant.
He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, November 3. A 44-year-old man from Bootle was also arrested and released under investigation.
Merseyside police say that after making the arrests, four county lines were shut down between Merseyside, West Mercia, North Wales, Devon and Cornwall, and Lancashire. Inspector Darren Wallace said: "Project Medusa and teams across Merseyside Police work on a daily basis to tackle the issue of County Lines drug dealing, and we share the results on a regular basis.
"This week of action is a snapshot of some of this work, and a way to keep the issue and the warning signs in people's minds, especially if they study, live or work with people who may be vulnerable to exploitation at the hands of organised criminals. Criminals cross borders to commit crime because they think it makes them too hard to detect, but thanks to strong partnership work with the likes of North Wales, West Mercia and Devon and Cornwall, we’re better than ever at sharing information and working alongside officers around the UK to carry out operations.
"As a force we are committed to working alongside partners and other forces to cut these County Lines, protect and safeguard vulnerable people. Some of the results this week will hopefully lead to positive results in court, and has already broken some of these chains, by seizing drugs and other items which can cause such harm in our communities and other areas of the country.
"We cannot stop this criminality alone, we need to continue our work with partners and we need the public’s help. It’s vital that everyone who cares for or knows young and vulnerable people understands the issue and knows the warning signs, and the more people share this advice the better."
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