Project Medusa delivers major results against County Lines crime across Merseyside

Project Medusa delivered another impactful year in the fight against County Lines crime, with hundreds of drug lines shut down, more than a thousand arrests made, and large‑scale seizures of drugs, weapons and criminal cash.

Launched in 2019 by Merseyside Police, Project Medusa proactively targets County Lines drug dealing and the criminal exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults.

Day in, day out, Medusa officers provide the force’s response to County Lines criminality, using a range of tactics to intercept drugs, weapons and illicit cash, while identifying and safeguarding those exploited by organised crime groups.

Funded through the government’s County Lines Programme, the project includes:

The County Lines Taskforce – a proactive, targeted team dedicated to tackling drug supply and exploitation.

Operation Toxic – a team of detectives who investigate and dismantle County Lines across Merseyside and other parts of the UK.   

Operation Stonehaven – a prevention and early intervention team working with partners to deliver training, activities and targeted support for young people.

Year in figures

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Medusa successfully closed 460 drug lines – the phone lines criminals use to advertise and sell drugs.

As part of this activity, officers:

• Made 1,334 arrests
• Seized 252.5kg of controlled drugs
• Recovered 197 knives and 107 other weapons, including firearms
• Confiscated £795,000 in cash and criminal assets

Of those arrested, nine in ten (90%) were charged, reflecting the strength of investigations and case preparation.

During the same period, 302 offenders were convicted, with 241 receiving custodial sentences. Collectively, those offenders will spend 894 years behind bars.

Overall, 302 of the 314 court cases concluded this financial year resulted in a conviction – a success rate of 96%.

Medusa officers also referred 1,674 vulnerable adults and children to statutory and specialist safeguarding partners.

Operation Stonehaven works closely with partners including schools, youth services and charities to deliver preventative education and targeted interventions. Over the last year, the team:

• Reached more than 38,000 young people
• Provided direct support to 1,067 individuals
  
  

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton said: “County Lines criminality causes significant harm to our communities, exploiting young people, targeting the vulnerable and fuelling serious violence. These results show the relentless work of Project Medusa officers and our partners, who are committed to disrupting organised crime, safeguarding those at risk and putting offenders before the courts.

“Behind every line closed is a life protected from exploitation and harm. While we are proud of what has been achieved over the last year, our work continues every day, and we will not relent in our efforts to dismantle County Lines networks and protect our communities across Merseyside.”

Here’s some examples of how our dedicated teams have been working together to tackle organised crime and safeguard vulnerable people over the last 12 months.  

Drugs Lines

In November 2025, Project Medusa officers carried out a warrant at an address on Coral Drive, Bootle, uncovering a commercial‑scale drug preparation operation. Officers recovered specialist equipment, large quantities of cooking ingredients, extensive packaging materials and significant amounts of controlled drugs.

A second address on Linacre Road was subsequently identified, where officers located further controlled drugs, weighing equipment and additional evidence of large‑scale drug supply.

Jake Gerrard, 34, was sentenced in April 2026 to 10 years and eight months’ imprisonment for drug supply offences.

Read more: Man from Litherland jailed after significant quantities of drugs found | Merseyside Police

Intensification Activity

During the latest County Lines Intensification Week, coordinated by the NPCC‑led National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), Medusa officers:

• Arrested 237 individuals
• Dismantled 17 drug lines
• Recovered more than £42,000 in cash
• Seized 35 weapons, including daggers, zombie‑style knives, handguns and imitation firearms

Read more here: 237 people arrested and 17 drug lines shut down during County Lines Intensification Week | Merseyside Police

Prevention and Engagement

In March 2026, students from Hillside High School and Alsop High School became Merseyside’s newest Trainee Detectives. Working alongside Everton in the Community, students took part in a realistic, fictional crime‑scene investigation in Stanley Park.

While the scenario was fictional, the learning was very real. The programme helps young people understand the realities of knife crime and how criminals target and exploit vulnerable people within their communities.

Alongside this work, the Eyes Open campaign continues to be promoted across the North West to raise awareness of child criminal exploitation and County Lines. The campaign encourages young people, parents and carers to keep their #EyesOpen to the signs of criminal exploitation and to report concerns.

By increasing awareness of how organised crime groups groom and exploit children, Eyes Open plays a vital role in helping communities spot the warning signs early and take action to protect those at risk.

You can report concerns to police on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or through our social media desk on X @MerPolCC. Young people can access non-judgemental advice anonymously via Crimestoppers’ Fearless service.