Man from Wirral charged with drugs and firearm offences

A man has been charged with drug offences and conspiracy to possess a firearm after officers made an arrest at Manchester Airport earlier this week. 

At around 8.40pm on Tuesday 9 August officers stopped and arrested a man from Birkenhead as he arrived at the airport on a flight from Tenerife.

Police then executed a warrant at a house in Birkenhead and discovered three swords, a knuckle duster and suspected Class B drugs (cannabis) which were all seized at the address. 

Liam Freaney, aged 36, of Beechwood Estate, Birkenhead, Wirral has been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and conspiracy to possess a firearm without a licence.

The charge was made as part of Operation Aquarium – a police investigation into drugs supply and the Merseyside Police response to Operation Venetic: a national investigation into the use of encrypted mobile devices, commonly referred to as Encrochat.

Freaney was remanded into custody to appear at Wirral magistrates court this morning.