Three people have been arrested after police raided a property in Bootle believed to be used for cuckooing. Officers attended the property at around 12.40am on July 23 to check on the welfare of a resident.
Upon entering, they saw an open carrier bag in the kitchen containing several wraps of brown and white powder, believed to be heroin and cocaine. A search also recovered cannabis and cash.
Arrests and charges
A 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine) and possession of a class B drug (cannabis). A 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and acquire/use/possess criminal property. A 54-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). All three remain in custody.
The arrests came just hours before Merseyside Police launched a region-wide operation targeting criminality. Hundreds of officers executed 28 search warrants this morning, targeting properties and individuals in south Sefton.
Operation Vanguard
Chief Constable Rob Carden said: "I suppose the message is that if you're involved in criminality in Merseyside, you've put yourself in play, and it's up to us to do something about it. Vanguard is just one way of doing things. We're already planning the next one, it will be bigger than this one, but it doesn't mean to say there's not other stuff going on all the time."
He added: "I've just spoken to two officers that were working until last night, they're still working because they've conducted a warrant for us last night in this area in Sefton, arrested offenders, recovered loads of drugs and a premise that's being cuckooed. So, there's good stuff going on all the time, but this is the opportunity to really put the flag up and let the public know, and reassure them: give us the information, we'll do the business."
Sefton area commander Karl Baldwin said: "This was fantastic work on the behalf of the officers who attended the property. As a result we have seized a significant quantity of suspected Class A drugs. The arrests came just hours before our latest Op Vanguard strike day which aims to target criminality in Sefton and across Merseyside, including the supply of Class A drugs, and shows that our work goes on around the clock."
EVOLVE initiative
Operation Vanguard was introduced since Chief Constable Carden took charge last year, aiming to "relentlessly target criminals who bring fear to our communities." Police have also been targeting serious and organised criminality through the EVOLVE initiative, which focuses on disruption, arrests, seizing drugs, weapons, illicit cash and assets, engaging the community, and supporting broader crime reduction.
Anyone with information about drug dealing is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
