Police hoping to smash a county lines drugs network arrested three suspects today. Officers from GMP and Merseyside Police carried out 6am raids.
The swoops followed an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs by an organised crime group operating between Liverpool and Wigan. The operation identified one of the addresses may have been the home of a victim of cuckooing, where criminals exploit vulnerable people, using their house as a drugs den. This morning’s activity has enabled safeguarding interventions to be put in place to protect those who could be vulnerable.
A search of three addresses – Alder Avenue in Wigan, Victoria Road in Formby and Mount Road in Kirkby uncovered a cultivation of cannabis plants, mobile phones and approximately £2,000 in cash. A 44-year-old man from Wigan, a 32-year-old man from Formby and a 35-year-old man from Kirkby have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. They have been taken to a police station in Merseyside where they remain in custody.
Detective Supt Simon Hurst, head of Wigan's Challenger Organised Crime Team, said: “This morning we’ve taken further action to tackle the criminal gangs operating across Wigan and Merseyside. As well as making a number of arrests and seizing drugs, we’ve been able to collect valuable intelligence and safeguard a vulnerable person from further exploitation.
“Criminals don’t operate to borders and neither should we. By working with colleagues in neighbouring forces and a number of local authorities, we can combine intelligence and skills to protect the community and prevent further criminality.”
Detective Sgt Peter Sloan from Merseyside Police, said: “Merseyside’s Operation Toxic, as part of Project Medusa, continues to work closely with forces and other agencies to shut County Lines down. Today’s operation with GMP shows that we will relentlessly target those crime groups who cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities. Our work to remove these people from our streets and bring them to justice will continue on a daily basis and I would ask anyone who has information about this kind of activity to come forward so action can be taken.”
Anyone with information should report it online or by using our LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
