Crackdown on County Lines sees 237 arrests, 18kg of drugs seized and 8 drug lines closed in Merseyside

Drug gangs in Merseyside were targeted as part of a national police operation last week, leading to hundreds of arrests and a significant amount of Class A and B drugs seized.

Project Medusa, funded by the Home Office, is a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle County Lines drug dealing and the criminal exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults all year round.

During the week, Project Medusa officers, alongside local policing teams, worked with partners and other forces from across the UK to dismantle and disrupt criminal gangs.

Activity included warrants, safeguarding visits to vulnerable people and joint operations with North Wales, Cheshire, Norfolk and Lancashire.

The week of action resulted in:

• 237 arrests linked to county lines activity
• 8 drug lines identified and closed
• 18kg of drugs seized (including crack cocaine, heroin, cocaine and cannabis), 1,080 wraps of crack, heroin and cocaine, 29 cannisters of nitrous oxide and 247 cannabis plants seized and destroyed
• £227,000 of cash seized
• 39 weapons seized, including 19 knives and one handgun
• 39 people identified as being at risk of exploitation and safeguarded

In a joint operation with Cheshire Police, warrants were executed simultaneously across 19 addresses which resulted in the recovery of approximately £150,000 cash, suspected stolen designer watches and a fleet of electric pedal bikes with a value more than £50,000. A 25-year-old man from Formby was arrested on suspicion of drug supply and money laundering offences.

During a plain clothed operation in Pwllheli, Wales, officers sighted a suspected drug deal and stop searched a 25-year-old man, finding a small quantity of cannabis. During a further search of a property in Pwllheli, officers seized a large quantity of cannabis, offensive weapons, drugs paraphilia and approximately £3,000 in cash. A 25-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of drug supply and possession of cannabis.

Dedicated officers continue to work tirelessly to compile covert intelligence and disrupt those involved in county lines - resulting in eight drug lines being identified and closed during the week alone.

Officers also worked shoulder to shoulder with social workers, local safeguarding partners and leading child exploitation charities to safeguard 39 people at risk of being exploited by gangs.

The force’s Operation Stonehaven is focused on prevention and offering diversionary activities for young people at risk of exploitation by criminal gangs. Since 2019, it has supported more than 9,000 young people a year, through more than 60 partnerships with organisations such as Shrewsbury House, Toxteth El8te, Catch22 and Positive Futures.

SIO for Project Medusa, Jimmy Belmar, said: “Exploitation, coercion, and violence are cornerstones of the county lines trade, and gangs will often trap young and vulnerable people into debt, forcing them to transport their drugs to other parts of the country.

“This week of action highlights the work we do day in, day out to crackdown on county lines and the organised criminals involved in the supply of drugs, not only in Merseyside but across the UK.

“Officers have made more than 200 arrests, seized a significant amount of Class A and B drugs and recovered 39 weapons which can no longer be caused to cause harm in our communities. These results are testament to the effective joint working between forces and partners.”

You can report any concerns to police on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or our social media desk via X @MerPolCC.

You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: Give information 100% anonymously about organised crime in Merseyside | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)