Kirkby drug dealer jailed for more than five years

A drug dealer from Kirkby has been jailed for five years and seven months after he was found with heroin and crack cocaine during a stop and search in December.

Michael Smith, 48 years of Didsbury Close, Northwood was arrested on 9 December 2024 after he was found in possession of 35 individual wraps of heroin and 35 wraps of crack cocaine.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday 8 January 2025 where he pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

The arrest came as part of our ongoing Operation Toxic which is part of Project Medusa - a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle suspected County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country.

Detective Sergent Gerard Farley said: “Drug dealers show complete disregard for community well-being. We understand the devastation caused by drug addiction and are relentless in using our powers to bring offenders to justice and remove drugs from circulation.
“Smith had prior convictions for violence, domestic violence, and possession of bladed articles, and has two previous convictions for drug dealing. His swift arrest and conviction highlight the effective partnership between Operation Medusa and local policing in removing a violent individual from the community.”

Project Medusa continues to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation.

The investigation involves Operation Medusa as part of ongoing efforts to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation.

If you have concerns about drug dealing in your area you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always contact 999 if a crime is in progress.

Spotting the signs of someone involved in County Lines can be tricky – if you are worried about someone, visit www.eyes-open.co.uk for more information.