Officers conduct succesful week of action in the L8 area tackling serious and organised crime

A week targeting criminals involved in serious and organised crime in Toxteth has resulted in the recovery of cannabis, suspected cocaine, cash and designer clothing.

Officers have also arrested and charged a 23-year-old man for breaching the terms of his Gang Injunction. Kane Omar from Toxteth was stopped by officers in a car on Smithdown Road and had a number of mobile phones in his possession. He has been charged with breaching the terms of his Gang Injunction and will stand trial in October.

During the week, Liverpool officers executed warrants at nine addresses believed to be linked to criminals involved in serious and organised crime. A number of road side policing checks were also carried out as part of the week of activity.

As a result, large quantities of drugs believed to be cocaine, cannabis resin and cannabis bush, over £4,000 in cash and a motor vehicle were seized.

Officers also seized property valued at approximately £10,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows officers to seize high value property suspected of being bought with criminal assets.

Liverpool Targeted Team Inspector Katie Wilkinson said: “This week of action comes in response to serious and organised crime in the L8 area, and I hope it shows to the local communities that we are relentless in our pursuit of individuals involved.

“In total approximately 20kg of cannabis bush, 27 bars of cannabis resin, a large quantity of suspected cocaine, £4,300 in cash and one car has been seized over the week, as well as around £10,000 worth of property including designer clothes seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“Using new legislation under the Proceeds of Crime Act we have seized high value items which we believe have been bought through money made through criminal enterprise, including drug dealing. These items will go to auction and the bitter sweet irony, for those involved in serious organised crime on Merseyside, is that a percentage of money raised through the sale of these items will go back in to fighting crime or to community projects.

This week’s results are extremely positive, but we will never become complacent and our activity in the area will continue in the upcoming weeks and months.

“We know that our communities have concerns following recent serious incidents and I would like to reassure them that we will do everything we can to locate those involved in criminal activity and put them behind bars. These individuals make life a misery for the decent, law abiding people in the area and it will not be tolerated by Merseyside Police.

“I want to encourage the public to keep coming forward with information about criminal activity in your area. The information we receive from the community is often vital in removing dangerous offenders from our streets and we cannot do it without your help. You can come to us directly, or alternatively you can report crime anonymously through Crimestoppers.

“We will continue to work closely with partners and our communities to ensure Merseyside remains a safe place to live work and visit and anyone with information about crime in your area can contact @MerPolCC, 101 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

The breakdown of results from the week of action are as follows:

A quantity of cannabis bush, cannabis resin, designer clothing, suspected cocaine and three high value mountain bikes recovered following warrants at three addresses on Smithdown Road.

A 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and money laundering and a quantity of cash, designer clothing and cannabis recovered following a warrant at an address on Newstead Road.

A quantity of cannabis recovered following a warrant at an address on Merlin Street.

A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class C drugs and theft and a quantity of prescription drugs, cash and mobile phones recovered following the search of a car.

A total of 27 vehicles stopped during a road side operation with one Officer Seen Conditional Offer (OSCO) issued.