Project Medusa sees massive success in latest crackdown across Merseyside

Merseyside’s Project Medusa has achieved another effective year in the battle against County Lines crime.

This comes after hundreds of drug lines were shut down, along with more than a thousand arrests made and big-scale seizures of drugs, weapons and criminal cash.

Launched in 2019 by Merseyside Police, Project Medusa proactively targets County Lines drug dealing and the criminal exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults.

In daily life, Medusa officers bring the force’s response to County Lines criminality with the use of tactics to intercept drugs, weapons and illicit cash- all while identifying and safeguarding people exploited by these groups.

The project is funded by the government’s County Lines Programme and includes:

The County Lines Taskforce –this is a proactive, targeted team dedicated to tackling drug supply and exploitation.

Operation Toxic – this is a team of detectives who investigate and dismantle County Lines across Merseyside as well as other parts of the UK too.

Operation Stonehaven – this team focuses on prevention and early intervention, working with partners to deliver training, activities and targeted support for young people.

Medusa closes 460 drug lines between April 2025 and March 2026, which were the phone lines criminals use to advertise and sell drugs.

This also included officers making 1,334 arrests, seizing 252.5kg of controlled drugs, recovering 197 knives and 107 other weapons, including firearms. They also confiscated £795,000 in cash and criminal assets. Of those arrested, nine in ten (90%) were charged, showcasing the strength of investigations.

At the time, 302 offenders were convicted, with 241 receiving custodial sentences and collectively, those offenders will spend 894 years behind bars. On the whole, 302 of the 314 court cases finished this financial year resulted in a conviction – a success rate of 96%.

1,674 vulnerable adults and children were referred to statutory and specialist safeguarding partners by officers involved in the project, too.

Working closely with partners, including schools, youth services and charities, to deliver preventative education and targeted interventions, Operation Stonehaven over the last year provided:

Reached more than 38,000 young people
Provided direct support to 1,067 individuals

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. These results show the relentless work of Project Medusa officers and our partners, who are committed to disrupting organised crime, safeguarding those at risk and putting offenders before the courts.

“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.”

Back in November 2025, Project Medusa officers carried out a warrant at an address on Coral Drive, Bootle. This uncovered a commercial‑scale drug preparation operation with officers recovering specialist equipment, large quantities of cooking ingredients, packaging materials and large amounts of controlled drugs.

A second address on Linacre Road was also identified, in which officers located further controlled drugs, weighing equipment and additional evidence of large‑scale drug supply. Subsequently, Jake Gerrard, 34, was sentenced in April 2026 to 10 years and eight months’ imprisonment for drug supply offences.

During the latest County Lines Intensification Week, coordinated by the NPCC‑led National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), Medusa officers:

Arrested 237 individuals
Dismantled 17 drug lines
Recovered more than £42,000 in cash
Seized 35 weapons, including daggers, zombie‑style knives, handguns and imitation firearms

Looking at March 2026, students from Hillside High School and Alsop High School became Merseyside’s newest Trainee Detectives. This gave them the chance to work alongside Everton in the Community, and students took part in a realistic, fictional crime‑scene investigation in Liverpool’s Stanley Park.

Additionally, to help raise awareness of child criminal exploitation and County Lines, the Eyes Open campaign continues to be promoted across the North West This campaign supports and encourages young people, parents and carers to keep their #EyesOpen to the signs of criminal exploitation and to report concerns.

You can report concerns to police on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or through our social media desk on X @MerPolCC. Young people can access non-judgemental advice anonymously via Crimestoppers’ Fearless service.