Merseyside Police have made over 1000 arrests connected to ongoing operations against ‘county lines’ gangs in the last year, new figures reveal.
The data, released as part of the force’s Project Medusa campaign, show that large-scale seizures of drugs, weapons and criminal cash have also been made.
‘County Lines’ refers to a form of criminal exploitation where organised criminal groups from large cities transport illegal drugs into smaller towns, rural areas and coastal towns across the UK using young and/or vulnerable individuals.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, Medusa successfully closed 460 drug lines, which are the phone lines used by criminals to advertise and sell drugs.
Over this year-long period police have made 1,334 arrests, seized 252.5kg of controlled drugs, recovered 197 knives and 107 other weapons including firearms, and confiscated £795,000 in cash and criminal assets.
Of those arrested, 90% were charged, with 302 offenders convicted and 241 custodial sentences.
Collectively, those offenders will spend 894 years behind bars.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton said: “County Lines criminality causes significant harm to our communities, exploiting young people, targeting the vulnerable and fuelling serious violence.
“Behind every line closed is a life protected from exploitation and harm. While we are proud of what has been achieved over the last year, our work continues every day, and we will not relent in our efforts to dismantle County Lines networks and protect our communities across Merseyside.”
Featured image credit to Merseyside Police
