50 arrests, 16 people safeguarded, drugs, weapons and cash seized in county lines crackdown

Criminals linked to county lines drug dealing have been targeted during a week of action across Cheshire.

Officers arrested 50 people, 41 men and nine women, including four teenagers, on suspicion of drug offences.

A large number of drugs were recovered including 10kg of cocaine, 35 cannabis deals and 259 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin and £104,000 in cash.

Police also seized three vehicles, high value watches, 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 heroin and crack cocaine – were visited by officers.

At least 16 people were identified as vulnerable and at risk of criminal exploitation by drug gangs. Officers worked with local authorities and charities to provide specialist support and advice to safeguard them.

Local officers visited primary and secondary schools to educate pupils and teachers on how organised crime gangs recruit youngsters to deal drugs on their behalf and the signs they should look out for.

The week of action ran from Monday 7 March to Sunday 13 March and was part of a national focus co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

T/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 this on our own, we work with our 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.”

These are some signs a child or vulnerable adult is a victim of criminal exploitation:

• A child or young person going missing from school or home and travelling to market towns or rural areas
• The use of drugs and alcohol
• Having more money, new expensive clothes or accessories which they are unable to account for
• Forming relationships and meeting with controlling or older people or groups
• Carrying weapons
• Increase in visitors or cars to a house or flat
• People coming and going at odd times of the day and night
• Strange smells coming from the property (illegal drugs)
• Cars pulling up to or near the house for a short period of time

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 through 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.”

You can find all the signs you should be looking out for here:

https://www.cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/campaigns/campaigns/2019/impact/

If you believe drug activity is taking place in your community please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be provided by calling Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or reporting via the website:

https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us

Details of those arrested during the intensification week:

A 47-year-old woman from Crewe was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of heroin and has been released under investigation.

A 48-year-old man from Crewe was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and has been released under investigation.

A 23-year-old man from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 51-year-old man from Macclesfield was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 19-year-old man from Oldham was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 17-year-old boy from Chadderton was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 46-year-old woman from Warrington has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 48-year-old man from Widnes was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis and has been released under investigation.

A 48-year-old man from Warrington was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and has been released under investigation.

A 37-year-old woman from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and has been released under investigation.

A 46-year-old man from Northwich was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and was released with no further action.

A 39-year-old man from Warrington was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and has been released under investigation.

A 44-year-old man from Northwich was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and has been released under investigation.

A 22-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply heroin and has been released under investigation.

A 37-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 22-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and has been released under investigation.

A 20-year-old man from Ellesmere Port was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and 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 was 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 has been released on conditional bail.

A 44-year-old man from Dentons Green was arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property, money laundering and possession with intent to supply cannabis. He has been released on conditional bail.

A 52-year-old man from Whiston was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin and was released with no further action.

A 49-year-old man from Elton was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and has been released under investigation.

A 49-year-old man from Helsby was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and has been released under investigation.

A 36-year-old woman from Ellesmere Port was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and has been released under investigation.

Callum Mulvery, 25, of Avondale Drive in Widnes has been charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine.

Ian Matthews, 57, of Lower House Lane in Widnes has been charged with possession of crack cocaine.

David McKuhen, 42, of Oak Drive in Runcorn has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon (knuckleduster).

Macayley O’Leary, 18, of Lower Lime Road in Oldham has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Darcy Holder-Smith, 22, of Ambler Grove in Coventry has been charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Jason Nicholls, 36, of Penkford Street in Newton-Le-Willows has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

James Binsteed, 34, of Leicester Street in Warring has been charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Liam Hawkes, 18, of no fixed address, has been charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of cannabis.

Michael Davies, 45, of Fernhill Road, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Sophie Fletcher, 34, of Picton Grove, Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). She was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Andrew Graham, 38, of Glyn Garth, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Carl Kelly, 38, of Ivy Avenue, Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Robert Marsh, 25, Timberfields Road, Chester, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was bailed to appear at court at the next date.

Christopher Martin, 36, Stormont Road, Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and conspiring to transfer criminal property. He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Peter Morley, 38, of no fixed abode but of Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Kelly Munday, 38, of no fixed abode but of Chester, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). She was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Richard Pendleton, 47, Glyn Garth, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Rebecca Sieminski, 32, of Stratford Road, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). She was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

John Turner, 34, Delamore Street, Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and conspiring to transfer criminal property. He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Stephen Williams, 42, Stratford Road, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was bailed to appear in court at the next date.

Edward Farrell, 42, of no fixed address but of Liverpool, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and possession of a class A (cocaine) and class B drugs (cannabis). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Jordan Sheridan, 26, of Bentley Grove, Birmingham, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was remanded to appear in court at the next date.

Deborah Leather, 41, Polperro Close, Liverpool was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). She was bailed to appear in court at the next date.

Anthony Price, 44, Sycamore Drive, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin). He was bailed to appear in court at the next date.

Chloe Paul, 48, Clover Lane, Chester was charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. She was bailed to appear in court at the next date.

Peter Maxwell, 29, of Angelica Drive in Liverpool has been charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.