Police smashed in a number of doors across Merseyside in a bid to stamp down on organised and serious crime.
A number of warrants were carried out by Merseyside Police in the region on Monday, October 17 as part of Operation Crossbow. The operation's day of action, involving more than 200 officers from Merseyside Police, Cheshire Constabulary and British Transport Police, targeted serious and organised crime.
Officers from each force's road policing unit, dog section, county lines teams and neighbourhood policing officers carried out search warrants and targeted illegal vehicles and criminals using the roads and rail network at the county border. The visible presence came off the back of the recent serious violence in Merseyside, which included three fatal shootings including nine nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
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Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told officers working on the day of action: "This is a fantastic opportunity to take the fight back to our criminals. It is absolutely about the relentless pursuit of the criminals who blight our communities."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said today 25 arrests were made and nine search warrants were executed across Merseyside. Two cannabis farms were found in Liverpool with over 700 plants between them inside. Three men were arrested and subsequently charged with cannabis cultivation.
Elligert Latollari aged 28 of no fixed address was charged following a raid in the Rice Lane area of Liverpool. He was remanded into custody at Wirral Magistrates' Court this morning. Valdas Baksys, 38, of Pearson Street, Liverpool and Gintaras Bakunas, 28, of no fixed address were also charged following a separate raid and were also remanded into custody at Wirral Magistrates' Court.
Six other men were arrested from across Merseyside after police recovered over £40,000 in cash, large amounts of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as a lock knife and knuckleduster. Six men were also arrested on suspicion of drug driving and three cars were seized for no insurance during road operations where number plate recognition technology was used to monitor vehicles crossing between Merseyside and Cheshire.
Further arrests made on the day included three for failing to attend court, one who was recalled for breaching the conditions of their release from prison and two for domestic abuse offences.
Cheshire Constabulary also arrested two people on suspicion of drug offences which led to crack cocaine and heroin being recovered. A warrant was executed at a property on Bold Street in Runcorn that led to 150 cannabis plants being seized and a man arrested. A number of road traffic offences were identified by officers leading to 21 notices being issued for offences including driving with a mobile phone. One arrest was made in relation to drug driving.
Chief Superintendent Mark Wiggins said: "These arrests formed part of a successful day of action across Merseyside and Cheshire where criminals were targeted on our roads, railways and in our communities. By working with Cheshire Constabulary and British Transport police we will continue to do everything in our power to target those involved in organised crime and bring to justice those we suspect of any illegal activity.
"The day demonstrates our continued commitment to policing across our borders and those involved in this activity need to realise they are not free from police enforcement by crossing into each county. If you have any information any form of serious or organised crime including drug dealing, violence and the exploitation of children please contact us so we can take action.”
Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe, from Merseyside Police, also sent a continued message of warning to criminals in the Merseyside and Cheshire area. CI Sutcliffe said: "We will do everything to hunt you down, lock you up and take you to justice for picking on individual victims in our society."
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