Police bodycam footage has captured the moment a Liverpool county lines drug dealer was arrested while driving along the M6. Lee Campbell was stopped by officers as he drove his Land Rover Defender southbound through Cumbria on July 15.
The 36-year-old Liverpool man can be seen in the footage being arrested by officers before asking them to repeat why he was being detained. Campbell then responds: "OK, whatever."
Arrest and investigation
Officers from Cumbria Constabulary had assisted Merseyside Police with the arrest following an investigation into a heroin county lines operation supplying drugs to Aberdeen in Scotland. Merseyside Police detectives identified Campbell as being involved in running the "Postcode" county line, which was used to transport heroin from Liverpool to Aberdeen.
When officers stopped Campbell on the M6, they found him in possession of three mobile phones, including the handset linked to the "Postcode" line. Detectives later examined the phone data and found messages being sent to customers advertising heroin for sale. The investigation found Campbell had been using his mobile phone to control the county lines operation and arrange the supply of class A drugs.
Sentencing and police response
Campbell, of Muirhead Avenue East, Norris Green, pleaded guilty last week to being concerned in the supply of heroin. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday, September 14, to six years and one month in prison.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton, from Merseyside Police's Project Medusa, said: "Thanks to the partnership work with Cumbria Constabulary and Police Scotland we were able to secure this conviction and Campbell is now behind bars.
"Our ongoing proactive work to tackle county lines drug dealing includes work with other law enforcement agencies to ensure we disrupt offenders traveling across force boundaries and take drug dealers off our streets.
"Thankfully Campbell did the right thing and pleaded guilty to his crime as a heroin peddler. I hope he will now spend time behind bars reflecting on the misery he has helped cause to families and communities by flooding the streets with hard drugs.
"Serious organised crime gangs are massive blight to our communities where drugs are closely linked to serious violence, involving firearm and knife crime.
"I hope this sentencing shows that Merseyside Police will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target criminals by thoroughly examining any evidence, messages and images we find."
Force cooperation and next steps
Cumbria Constabulary spokesperson said: "We were pleased to support Merseyside Police with the arrest of Lee Campbell as part of this investigation.
"This case highlights the importance of forces working together to target those involved in the supply of illegal drugs. We remain committed to disrupting county lines activity, bringing offenders to justice and protecting communities from the harm caused by organised crime."
Project Medusa officers lead the force’s daily response to county lines activity, working to intercept weapons, drugs, and illicit cash, while identifying and safeguarding individuals vulnerable to exploitation by organised crime groups.
Anyone with information on suspected drug dealing or criminal activity in your community can contact Merseyside Police's social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via the force's website or call 101. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website. In an emergency always call 999.
