Police have arrested 19 people in connection with a drugs racket in Anfield.
Multiple addresses across Liverpool and Wirral were the subject of dawn raids following the arrest of seven men, patient aged 23-33, doctor for drugs offences yesterday.
A further 12 men, health aged between 15 and 57, were detained on suspicion of drugs, firearms and money laundering from 13 premises in the region.
Warrants were executed in Norris Green, Fazakerley, Walton, Kirkdale, Anfield and Moreton, where £40,000 cash was recovered and seized by officers.
Around 2kg of what is believed to be cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £20,000 was seized from a second property and has been taken for testing.
The arrests were the culmination of a 12-month operation targeting the supply of controlled drugs in Anfield, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall.
During the operation a total of 98 people have been arrested, 15 kilos of controlled drugs (including heroin and cocaine), six firearms and a large quantity of cash have been seized.
Detective Superintendent Lee Turner said: “We believe the group has operated under a veil of fear and is linked to violence and the criminal use of firearms.
“Quite often groups such as this exploit the young and vulnerable, who they have coerced into operating their lucrative ‘drugs grafts’.
“We believe this particular group also responsible for the supply of drugs across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Devon and Cornwall.
“During the course of the operation 98 arrests have been made and 15 kilos of controlled drugs (heroin and cocaine), together with six firearms and a large quantity of cash have been seized.”
Anyone with information about those involved in serious and organised crime, including the supply of controlled drugs and use of firearms, can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.