Merseyside Police recovered a loaded revolver, CS spray, drugs and £20,000 in cash during a series of raids in St Helens and Knowsley on October 15. Eight people were arrested in connection with the supply of cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis.
Raids target organised crime
The warrants were carried out as part of an investigation into the wholesale supply of class A and class B drugs across the region. Alongside the cash and firearm, officers seized heroin, cocaine and suspected class B drugs.
Those arrested include a 55-year-old man from St Helens on suspicion of conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunition, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Two men aged 38 from Huyton were held, one on suspicion of conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunition, conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property, and the other on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon under Section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 and possession of criminal property.
Eight arrests and recovered items
A 31-year-old man from Prescot was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Three men from St Helens, aged 46, 38 and 61, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and assisting an organised crime group, with the 61-year-old also held on suspicion of possession of criminal property. A 43-year-old woman from St Helens was arrested on suspicion of assisting an organised crime group, perverting the course of justice and possession of criminal property.
In addition to the firearm, CS spray and luxury watches were recovered during the raids.
Detective urges public help
Detective Inspector John Holden said the St Helens area has suffered from young people using ketamine and the associated health issues, and has seen a disproportionate number of drug-related deaths linked to cocaine and heroin, with several deaths in 2025 attributed to contaminated heroin.
Holden said officers were committed to removing illicit drugs and dangerous weapons from the community and would not stop until those involved in gun crime were brought before the courts. He urged anyone with information about gun or drug crime to contact Merseyside Police via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook.
