57 MERSEY HOUSES RAIDED IN MASSIVE DRUGS BLITZ

NEARLY 60 houses on Merseyside were raided yesterday as part of
the police's biggest-ever one-day drugs blitzes in the region.

From dawn, 300 officers swooped on 57 addresses, the highest number
to be targeted in one day, seizing drugs and UKP250,000.

Raids were continuing last night, but the force-wide Total Policing
Operation resulted in at least 21 arrests.

And, in an unprecedented coup, three people were charged before the
day was over thanks to a mobile forensics lab. Chief Constable Bernard
Hogan-Howe, who took part in a raid on a house in Wirral, said last
night: "The addresses targeted have been chosen thanks to intelligence
received from the local community.

"Confidence that officers will act on information they receive has
meant that an increased number of people are prepared to pass on
intelligence."

Total Policing is the Chief Constable's initiative where the force
dedicates all its resources to its most effective tactics for the day.
Yesterday, the force concentrated all its efforts on Operation Tango
and raids took place in every area of the force.

In North Liverpool, a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of
money laundering after a raid on Albert Edward Road, where UKP1,500 and
a Toyota car were seized. Officers uncovered UKP250,000 at a property in
Fazakerley Road, but the offender now needs to be traced.

There were six arrests in Knowsley where officers uncovered hauls of
cannabis, amphetamine and UKP1,000 in cash.

A 58-year-old man was arrested in St Helens on suspicion of armed
robbery, while another man was arrested in connection with a haul of
cannabis.