Eleven men appeared in court today accused of offences including gun and drug plots.
Police seized large amounts of chemicals and substances after raiding industrial units in Aintree and North Wales last summer.
Merseyside Police said it was estimated the haul was capable of producing more than 3,000 kilos of amphetamine sulphate.
Officers raided homes across Merseyside at dawn on February 11, when they said "high-end jewellery" and cash were seized.
The 11 men arrested include Anthony Saunderson, 40, who is charged with conspiring to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition.
Saunderson, of Callan Crescent, Formby, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, via video link from prison.
He was supported by his wife, Julie Saunderson, the 42-year-old owner of Skin Kerr salon in Bootle, sitting in the public gallery.
Saunderson is also charged with conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin; to produce and supply amphetamine; to supply ketamine, mephedrone (MCAT), diazepam and cannabis; and to produce ketamine, mephedrone and diazepam.
Facing all of the same drug conspiracy charges as Saunderson are Darren Owens, 46, of Knowsley Lane, Huyton; Kieron Hartley, 30, of Moss Side, Knotty Ash; and Lee Eccles, 31, of Mersey Avenue, Maghull.
Paul Mount, 37, of Summerwood Gardens, Halsall, is charged with conspiring to acquire or purchase a prohibited weapon and ammunition.
He is also charged with all of the same drug conspiracies except for conspiring to produce ketamine, mephedrone and diazepam.
Mount faces a further charge of conspiring to convert criminal property.
Stephen Shearwood, 37, of Sankey Road, Maghull, and David Kelly, 42, of Downholland business park, Ormskirk, are also charged with all of the drug conspiracies, except for conspiring to produce ketamine, mephedrone and diazepam.
James Dunn, 34, of Sandy Lane, Walton, and Lee Walsh, 42, of Boyer Avenue, Maghull, are charged with the cocaine, heroin and amphetamine conspiracies.
Michael Pope, 34, of Whinney Grove West, Maghull, and Connor Smith, 27, of Derby Grove, Maghull, are charged with conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ketamine, mephedrone, diazepam and cannabis.
Smith is also charged with conspiring to produce cannabis and to convert criminal property.
Defence counsel asked that none of the 11 men be arraigned at the plea and trial preparation hearing.
Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said they would be expected to enter pleas at a further hearing on May 18.
Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said a provisional trial would be estimated to last eight weeks.
Judge Driver listed this for October 4 this year.
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He remanded all of the defendants in custody with the exception of Walsh and Dunnn, who were further remanded on conditional bail.
Police said the operation followed an eight-month investigation into the production and UK-wide distribution of Class A and Class B drugs.
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