Police arrested six people and seized thousands of pounds in cash and counterfeit goods in a joint crackdown on cross-border crime.

Among those stopped during the six-day operation, were a middle-aged Polish couple found to be in possession of 40,000 cigarettes in their suitcase as they got off a ferry at 12 Quays.

Several truckers stopped at the Mersey Tunnels and suspected to be falsely claiming unemployment benefits while working as drivers.

And a man from Belfast stopped at 12 Quays in a Hackney cab with an out-of-date taxi licence who was suspected of claiming incapacity benefit.

Detective Superintendent Alan Barr said: "This was a highly successful operation involving the vast expertise and experience of many police officers and members of the Force's partner agencies, who are all working towards making Merseyside and the rest of the region a safer place to live and work.

"Criminals need to travel to conduct their business so by targeting sea, road, rail and air travel in the region, we are making the transport links a more hostile and difficult place for them and therefore a safer place for the law-abiding public.

"By having a presence at the key routes into Merseyside we have been able to send out a clear message to criminals coming into or passing through Merseyside to commit offences that their presence here will not be tolerated."