Officers from the force’s Project Medusa team have arrested seven people following a joint Merseyside Police and Cumbria Constabulary investigation into County Lines drug dealing into the Barrow-In-Furness area.
Officers arrested a 31-year-old man from Runcorn and a 34-year-old woman from Anfield yesterday (Wednesday, 10 March) on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, after a pre-planned stop of a car in the Kirkby area of Merseyside.
Officers also executed warrants at addresses in Cumbria, Runcorn, Anfield and Kirkby as part of the investigation, where five further arrests were made:
• A 23-year-old man from Kirkby – Conspiracy to supply Class A
• A 19-year-old man from Wavertree – Possession with intent to supply
• A 17-year-old from Kirkby – Possession with intent to supply
• Two men from Cumbria, aged 31 and 34 – Conspiracy to supply Class A
All have been taken to police stations on Merseyside, where they continue to be questioned.
Enquiries are on-going, however at this time officers have seized a Jaguar car, a significant quantity of cash and a quantity of what is believed to be heroin and cocaine, as part of this investigation.
Detective Inspector Gary Stratton: “Project Medusa is dedicated to cutting these County Lines dead and as this investigation has shown, regional boundaries do not matter. We work with partners in other forces to trace those responsible and help those who may be exploited by these organised criminal gangs.
“Ultimately everyone should be warned that if you get involved in crime, you risk facing the consequences. But when we identify vulnerable, exploited people during our enquiries, we ensure they are treated with sensitivity and understanding, and are offered the appropriate support. Our primary target is those who seek to use them for their own selfish gain.”
Read more here about how to spot the signs of exploitation linked to drug dealing and the Eyes Open campaign, introduced by Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/police-forces/merseyside-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/2018/eyes-open/.
You can also report any concerns to police on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.
You can also pass information via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
Content courtesy of Merseyside Police.
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