A bucket filled with five pound notes and pound coins was seized by police who swooped on suspected drug dealers at the weekend.
Officers from a Merseyside Police operation targeting gangs in South Sefton made arrests and seizures in Seaforth and Crosby.
The incidents were the latest in a campaign that has led to more than £50,000 of drugs money being removed from the hands of criminals.
READ MORE: The areas of Merseyside with the highest Covid rates
The weekend's arrests were the latest from Operation Pelican to offer a glimpse into Merseyside's drugs trade.
High-profile seizures and raids have included the recovery of up to £30,000 in cash in a home in Crosby, and separate £10,000 cash hauls in Bootle and Lydiate.
Designer clothes thought to have been funded by the proceeds of drugs money have also been confiscated.
While those cases showed the vast sums being made by drugs gangs, an arrest in Seaforth this weekend highlighted how such profits are made from countless street deals often paid for by vulnerable addicts with pocket change.
Of the well over £100 visible within the bucket, the highest denomination was a £5 note.
Revealing the arrest, Merseyside Police's South Sefton team tweeted: "An adult male was arrested in the Seaforth area last night for possession with intent to supply cocaine after meeting Operation Pelican officers for a second time.
"Numerous wraps of cocaine and a large amount of cash have been recovered."
That arrest was on Saturday and was followed, yesterday, by news that "Operation Pelican officers tonight reacted to community concerns regarding drug dealing in a popular Crosby hotspot" and arrested a woman. Pictures of what appeared to be cocaine were shared with the tweet.
The suspect was arrested for possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Speaking of the impact of Operation Pelican to the ECHO just last month, Sefton Community Policing Sergeant, Chris Taylor said: “We’re pleased with the recent successes of Operation Pelican, and the impact it continues to have on the communities of South Sefton.
"Operation Pelican is a small, proactive team set up in 2017 to combat tensions between rival organised crime groups in the area.
“The team have made a massive contribution into reducing organised crime activity and shootings in South Sefton. The team now focuses on targeting suspected drug suppliers within the area, and supporting victims of criminal exploitation.
"Since 2019, we have made more than 450 arrests, seized more than £200,000 in cash and seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than £5m.
"Key to this success is often the information from those people and communities most affected, so if you have any information please come forward.”
*Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police via Twitter (@MerPolCC) or by calling 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
