Wanted man from Wirral arrested at Manchester Airport

We have arrested a wanted man from Wirral as part of a police operation into drugs supply at Manchester Airport.

At around 8.40pm last night (Tuesday 9 August) officers stopped and arrested a 36-year-old man from Birkenhead on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A and B drugs and attempting to acquire a firearm as he arrived at the airport on a flight from Tenerife.

He was taken to a police station in Merseyside where he remains in custody.

Officers then conducted a search of a property in Birkenhead and discovered three swords, a knuckle duster and suspected Class B drugs (cannabis) which were all seized at the address.

The arrest was made as part of Operation Aquarium which forms another part of the Merseyside Police response to Operation Venetic: a national investigation into the use of encrypted mobile devices, commonly referred to as Encrochat.

Detective Sergeant James Boardman said: “I hope this arrest shows that there is no hiding place for anyone who may be involved in serious and organised criminality. 

“Thanks to the work of our officers several dangerous weapons and drugs have been removed from our streets that could have caused serious harm to families and residents in our community. 

“These actions are about stopping the supply of illegal drugs and the storage of dangerous weapons that could harm others therefore I would urge anyone who may have information about those involved to contact police.”

If you have any information on the possession of, storage or use of drugs and weapons in your community, please contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.