Cash and phones were seized as specialist police surrounded cars during Merseyside swoops targeting crooks who peddle drugs across borders.
Officers from Merseyside Police 's Matrix guns and drugs unit teamed up with their counterparts in Cheshire, North Wales and Lancashire for a Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) blitz against County Lines drug gangs.
County Lines are networks run by city gangs who attempt to take over the drugs market in other towns and cities, sometimes peddling misery hundred of miles from their base.
And on Thursday intelligence officers, using what police termed "the latest technology and high specification vehicles" stopped 26 cars during swoops across Merseyside.
Police seized cash and mobile phones and arrested three people suspected of being involved in County Lines crime.
Today police issued video footage and pictures of the cars being stopped in yesterday's operation.
Detective Superintendent Andy O’Connor said: “This operation is just one tactic used by Project Medusa to crackdown on those involved in County Lines, by putting a stop to money, drugs and even weapons being moved across our region and into neighbouring counties.
“We know that those involved in County Lines use any means they can - cars, trains, buses, to move these items and today, we have been able to stop vehicles we know to be involved in County Lines and take those responsible off our streets.”
He added: “County Lines are run by organised criminals, who use young and vulnerable people to move, store and sell their drugs. These crime groups are happy to reap any rewards for this criminality, leaving all the risk to the young and vulnerable people they use.
“We want to put a stop to these crime groups exploiting young and vulnerable people. Where we find those who have been exploited, we ensure they are treated sensitively. As we have done today, where we find those controlling the lines, we will make arrests and put these offenders before the courts.”
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Green from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) said: “Here at the NWROCU, with staff and officers from across all six forces in the North West we’re committed to safeguarding the young and vulnerable people who are exploited by gangs to move, store and sell their drugs.
"“We use a whole system approach to tackling organised crime, working with our local forces locally, regionally and nationally to share intelligence and to identify opportunities to take enforcement action, but also where we can collectively protect those who are vulnerable and prevent harm.
"Today’s operation demonstrates the power of working closely with our partners to strengthen our regional response to county lines.”
