Six arrested in county lines drug crackdown
POLICE made five arrests in Widnes and one in Runcorn as part of a regional crackdown on “county lines” drug supply.
The suspects were among 41 men and nine women detained in Cheshire during a week of action.
A tandem operation in Merseyside also resulted in 50 arrests.
Both Cheshire and Merseyside police forces referred to the initiative as an “intensification week”.
In Halton, officers arrested:
● A 48-year-old man from Widnes on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis. He has been released under investigation.
● A 46-year-old man from Widnes was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and released with no further action.
● A 17-year-old boy from Widnes was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and released on conditional bail. ● Callum Mulvery, 25, of Avondale Drive, Widnes, charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine.
● Ian Matthews, 57, of Lower House Lane in Widnes, charged with possession of crack cocaine.
● David McKuhen, 42, of Oak Drive, Runcorn, charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knuckleduster.
A Cheshire police spokeswoman said the county-wide arrests included four teenagers for suspected drug offences.
Sixteen people described as “vulnerable” were also “safeguarded”.
The spokeswoman said raids recovered 10kg of cocaine, 35 cannabis deals, 259 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin and £104,000 in cash, in addition to the seizure of three vehicles, 47 mobile phones and weapons including a samurai sword and knives.
Fifteen addresses linked to cuckooing - a term used to describe how organised crime groups either befriend, manipulate or force themselves into the homes lived in by vulnerable people in order to use the property to store and sell drugs - were visited by officers.
Education visits to schools took place to alert pupils and teachers to the risks of gangs who try to recruit youngsters to sell drugs and the signs to look out for.
The week of action ran from March 7 to March 13 and was part of a national initiative co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Bill Dutton said: “Protecting and preventing young children and vulnerable adults from organised crime gangs who go out of their way to exploit them remains one of our top priorities.
“We don’t do this on our own, we work with partners to educate young children, their parents and teachers by visiting schools to give talks and presentations of the signs to look out for.
“We also identify and visit adults in our community who we think could be at risk to provide them with the support they need and further prevent them from becoming a victim of exploitation.”
Signs that a child or vulnerable adult might have been a victim of exploitation include, going missing or travelling to market towns and rural areas, using drugs and alcohol, having more money than expected or expensive clothes of accessories they can’t account for, meeting with controlling or older people or groups, carrying weapons, an increase in visitors or cars to a house or flat, comings and goings at odd times or day and night, strange smells, cars pulling up for a short amount of time.
T/ACC Dutton added: “I think the community are aware of how relentless we are in creating an atmosphere that is perceived as hostile to these criminals and the week of action is a snapshot of what officers across the country are doing every day.
“However we can only do this good work if communities come forward with the information.
“Let us know when you think somebody is being exploited, when you think a house may be being taken over by drug dealers and when you think there’s suspicious activity.
“Feed that information to us, or Crimestoppers, and we will act on that.”
John Dwyer, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “Protecting vulnerable and at-risk people is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan and I’m delighted to see the Constabulary take concrete action on the scourge of county lines.
“Criminals involved in these gangs cruelly exploit the most vulnerable in society.
“They should be under no illusion that Cheshire is a hostile environment for them, and that we will do everything we can to get them and their drugs off our streets.
“People in Cheshire can be assured that we will continue to take positive action to bring down organised crime gangs and protect our communities.”
Arrests and charges were also brought involving suspects from: Crewe, Birmingham, Macclesfield, Oldham, Chadderton, Warrington, Liverpool, Northwich, Ellesmere Port, Dentons Green, Elton, Helsby, Coventry, Newton-le-Willows, and Chester.
Anyone with concerns about drug activity in their area can contact the police.