MERSEYSIDE Police have arrested 2 men and seized drugs and cash following an investigation into the supply of drugs by a man posing as an private hire vehicle driver.

A blue BMW car displaying a taxi licence plate was stopped on Deyes Lane in Maghull at 8.30pm on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, and following a search, officers recovered three bags of white powder and £1,000 cash from the vehicle.

The driver was detained at the scene.

A 31-year-old man from West Derby was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (cocaine) and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property. He was taken into police custody for questioning.

Officers then attended an address in Appleton Road, Walton where they saw a man leave the house with a large bag and leave in a van. He was stopped by patrols and on searching the bag, officers found a safe containing 20 bags of white powder, a Rolex watch and bundles of bank notes and coins totalling thousands of pounds.

The driver was detained by officers and a 42-year-old man from Melling was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A controlled drug (MDMA) and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property. He has been taken to a police station to be interviewed.

Both men arrested have been released under investigation.

Inspector Ian Cowell said:- “These arrests form part of an extensive ongoing investigation, and our enquiries will continue into the suspects and their alleged activities. Our work to reduce the harm caused by drug supply in Merseyside continues every single day. People involved in organised crime destroy communities and the lives of vulnerable drug users as well as those they coerce into dealing for them. Every seizure, arrest, charge and conviction we make disrupts their networks, and I ask that anyone with information about this kind of activity comes forward so we can find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Policing activity is continuing to take place into September across Merseyside as part of the Safer Streets Summer initiative, with enhanced high-visibility patrols in hotspot areas for serious violence, anti-social behaviour, theft and robbery. 

The Safer Streets Summer campaign forms part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced by the Government earlier this year. As part of this, every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have dedicated teams spending their time on the beat, with guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas at peak times. 

For more information visit their website. 

If you have concerns about drug dealing in your area you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111, call Merseyside Police on:- 101 or DM @MerpolCC. Always contact:- 999 if a crime is in progress.

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