237 arrests in week-long Merseyside county lines crackdown
18kg of drugs were seized, along with 39 weapons and £227,000 in cash
Eight drugs lines have been closed and 237 arrests have been made across Merseyside in a week-long police crackdown on county lines gangs.
18kg of drugs were seized - including 1,080 wraps of crack, heroin and cocaine, 29 nitrous oxide cannisters and 247 cannabis plants, that have been destroyed.
£227,000 in cash was recovered along with 39 weapons, including 19 knives and one handgun.
39 people identified at being at risk of exploitation from these gangs were also safeguarded.
Joint operations were carried out during the week with other police forces.
That included working with Cheshire Police to simultaneously execute warrants at 19 addresses.
£150,000 in cash was recovered, along with suspected stolen designer watches and a fleet of electric pedal bikes valued at more than £50,000.
A 25-year-old man from Formby was arrested on suspicion of drug supply and money laundering offences.
During a plain-clothed operation in Pwllheli, officers saw a suspected drug deal and stop-searched a 25-year-old man. They found a small amount of cannabis.
A search of a property in Pwllheli then found a larger quantity of cannabis, weapons, drugs paraphilia, and around £3,000 in cash.
A 25-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of drug supply and possession of cannabis.
SIO for Project Medusa, Jimmy Belmar, said:
"Exploitation, coercion, and violence are cornerstones of the county lines trade, and gangs will often trap young and vulnerable people into debt, forcing them to transport their drugs to other parts of the country.
"This week of action highlights the work we do day in, day out to crackdown on county lines and the organised criminals involved in the supply of drugs, not only in Merseyside but across the UK.
"Officers have made more than 200 arrests, seized a significant amount of Class A and B drugs and recovered 39 weapons which can no longer be caused to cause harm in our communities. These results are testament to the effective joint working between forces and partners."