14 arrested in police crackdown on county lines gangs

‘Significant numbers’ of officers were stationed the two train stations on Friday, August 21, as well as at Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool South Parkway as part of Operation Medusa.

In total, 14 arrests were made as stop and searches were performed and raids were carried out at addresses in Halton and Liverpool in a joint operation between Cheshire Police, Merseyside Police and British Transport Police.

Plain clothes police were ‘deployed at strategic locations’ in Runcorn and Widnes on the day, and sniffer dogs were used on the railway lines – which are often used by organised crime groups based in cities in order to transport illegal substances to smaller towns.

Roads in and out of each of these areas were also monitored with quantities of class A and B drugs, machetes, knives and air guns seized.

Zoe Emanu, of Halton Lodge Avenue in Runcorn, has been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine in connection with the operation.

The 45-year-old has been released on conditional bail and will appear before Warrington Magistrates Court in October.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man from Widnes has been charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply.

But the force says it cannot name this suspect ‘for operational reasons’.

Superintendent Laura Marler said: “Criminals don’t simply stop when they reach borders.

“In fact, organised crime groups based in major cities are always looking to extend their criminal activities into other locations, using mobile phones to let drug users know when and where they can buy illegal drugs from them locally.

“Friday’s operation was part of our ongoing commitment to disrupt criminal activity and make Runcorn and Widnes safer places to live, work and visit.

“However, it wasn’t just about catching criminals and seizing drugs.

“One of the main aims was to help identify and safeguard vulnerable adults and children who are controlled, coerced and manipulated into dealing drugs on behalf of organised crime gangs.

“By doing so, we can offer them the support that they require and help to set them on the right path for a better life.

“The operation has also helped us to gather further information on how transport networks are being used by county lines criminals.”

Search warrants were executed on Wheatlands and Littlegate in the Halton Brook area of Runcorn, as well as two further raids in Liverpool.

A small quantity of cannabis was seized from the home on Wheatlands with no arrests made, but cocaine, cannabis, drug paraphernalia and weapons were seized at another address in Runcorn.

Two men, aged 21 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs at the latter property, but they have since been released under investigation.

In Widnes, a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply after being stopped and searched and a 24-year-old man was held for being concerned in the supply of a class B drug after officers seized a quantity of cannabis and his moped.

And a 36-year-old man was detained on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

All three have since been released under investigation.

A total of 47 people were stopped and searched in Halton during the day, with drugs being found and seized from 10 of them.

Cheshire police and crime commissioner David Keane said: “I would like to thank all the officers involved in this operation that was organised to protect communities from serious and organised crime and bring offenders to justice.

“Illegal drugs blight our communities, causing untold damage to both those that use them and the wider society who suffer from the resulting crime.

“As police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, I know that officers work tirelessly in their fight against county lines drug dealers and those who exploit and manipulate vulnerable adults and children to aid their criminal enterprises.

“Friday’s operation is a great example of how police forces work together to stamp out serious and organised crime, which has no place in our communities.”

Supt Marler added: “We will continue to work with other forces and partner agencies to do everything in our power to protect Halton residents from serious and organised crime.

“However, we also need support from the public.

“We need residents to be our eyes and ears by looking out for, and reporting, suspicious behaviour and signs of vulnerable children and adults being exploited.

“If you have any information that may help us to build more intelligence regarding county lines drug dealing, bring offenders to justice and keep vulnerable members of our communities safe then please get in touch.

“Together we can take dangerous substances off our streets.”