Ten suspected gang members arrested in investigation into child exploitation and drug dealing in Blackpool and St Annes

Police from Lancashire and Merseyside carried out stop searches in Blackpool and St Annes and tracked down criminal's cars on motorways as part of Operation Medusa.

The investigation followed tip-offs that drugs gangs from Liverpool were expanding into Blackpool and St Annes, using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children and vulnerable people to sell drugs – also known as County Lines.

Officers targeted rail networks, motorways and town centres. Cash and a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B drugs recovered.

Temp detective superintendent Becky Smith said: “County lines is an increasingly significant threat both nationally and locally within Lancashire.

“We know that these gangs target areas where there is a demand for Class A drugs and high levels of vulnerability. While for years we have worked hard to tackle the supply of controlled drugs into our communities, County Lines is far more concerning as it involves the exploitation of vulnerable children and adults who are often subjected to coercion, threats and serious violence.

“Lancashire Constabulary and our partners are committed to tackling this level of serious organised criminality and providing reassurance to our communities. Every day we are working pro-actively to gather intelligence and carry out operations to both disrupt county lines drug dealers and to identify those at risk from this type of criminality.”

Chief inspector Karl Baldwin, of Merseyside Police, added: “Organised crime groups are exploiting children and vulnerable adults to move and supply drugs on their behalf and this operation is just one part of our on-going commitment to disrupt this criminality. By working with our colleagues across borders, we’ll continue to our extensive efforts to protect the public, arrest offenders and put a stop to young people being exploited at the hands of criminal gangs.

“We cannot tackle this issue alone – maybe you are worried about someone at risk or simply have information that could assist with our continued investigations. Get in contact, we want to know about it.”

ARRESTED

A 30-year-old man from Salford was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug

A 29-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of a Class B or C drug

A 24-year-old man from Halifax was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and assault

A 35-year-old man from Coventry was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving

A 24-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving

A 29-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving

A 46-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply – Class A

A 37-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply – Class A

A 30-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class B or C drugs and obstructing powers of search for drugs

Nine of the men were released under investigation, some pending further enquiries.