North East regional police agency hails success of drug bust

A 44-year-old man was arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Saturday (July 25), after the joint operation by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), the UK Border Force and Merseyside Police.

The suspect was wanted by police after a previous interception in Newcastle which saw the seizure of more than 30 kilos of cannabis.

Saturday’s arrest strike was pre-planned, and when stopped and arrested at the Liverpool airport he was found to be in possession of a further 20 kilos of cannabis.

Case full of drugs seized by North East regional police agency in targeted arrest of suspected smuggler at airport in Liverpool (Image: NEROCU)

He has now been subject to bail while police inquiries continue.

Speaking after the arrest, Sergeant Neil Lovat, part of NEROCU’s Disruption Team, praised the partnership working.

Some of the vacuum-packed cannabis seized by police in arrest of suspected drug smuggler (Image: NEROCU)

Sgt Lovat said: “I want to thank everyone involved.

Read next … more crime stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

“This has been an excellent display of what can be achieved when partner agencies work together to take action against illegal drug operations.

“We will continue to work with our partners, under Operation Sentinel, to dismantle the criminal groups who try to profit from the sale and supply of illegal drugs and inflicting harm to communities.”

If anyone has any information about drug supply, they can report it to their local police, using the general non-emergency 101 line, or via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on (0800) 555111.