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Police also uncovered numerous drug stashes over the two-day crackdown in and around Carlisle.
Operation Vanguard saw officers from Cumbria and Merseyside police forces join hands, targeting the threat from county lines drugs crime.
Some suspects were met at daybreak with forced entry into their homes, leading to arrests and evidence collection.
Other arrests and seizures of drugs and cash followed intelligence-led foot and vehicle patrols.
The operation targeted county lines drugs crime, while also investigating other suspected offences encountered.
County lines refer to gangs and organised networks involved in exporting drugs into other areas using dedicated mobile phone lines.
Operation Vanguard was a collaborative effort, with Merseyside police contributing as part of their initiative, Project Medusa, which focuses on county lines crime and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
The operation’s results included a drug warrant executed in Whinsmoor Drive, leading to two arrests and the seizure of class A and B drugs, as well as an electric bike suspected to have been procured with the proceeds of crime.
Four individuals stopped at Central Avenue were arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Substantial seizures included 9kg of cannabis, £20,000 in cash from a vehicle stop outside the city, and £24,000 in a stop-search outside the city.
Other arrests and seizures followed across various locations, with multiple individuals arrested on suspicion of drug supply and possession.
The operation also resulted in several drug driving arrests and the identification of driving offences such as driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
Detective Inspector Sam Johnson said: “Officers work all-year-round to tackle the threat from county lines drugs gangs and protect those potentially being exploited, with significant sentences handed out in the courts to reflect this work.
“This two-day operation saw officers from Merseyside Police join our own officers to enhance the response to this type of offending over two days of targeting in intelligence-led action and patrols.
“Drugs and drug-related crime are extremely harmful to our communities and operations such as this are crucial to targeting those responsible.”
Inspector Stephen Morris from Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside’s county lines team, Project Medusa, continues to work closely with other forces and agencies to target county lines and protect vulnerable people.
“This joint operation with Cumbria Police shows that we will relentlessly target the crime groups who supply drugs across the country, cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities and take part in serious criminal behaviour such as violence, exploitation and abuse.”
The operation is part of a broader preventive strategy that includes raising awareness and educating people about the risks and signs of county lines crime.
This includes the county’s 1CLIC initiative, which provides support to those most in need, aiming to divert individuals away from crime.
Leaflet drops asking for community intelligence were conducted in various neighbourhoods, and pop-up stalls at Carlisle railway station and Southwaite services promoted the 1CLIC scheme.
The police has urged anyone with information to come forward, as communities play a crucial role in tackling crime in their streets.
“}]] Operation Vanguard saw officers from Cumbria and Merseyside police forces join hands, targeting the threat from county lines drugs crime. Read More
