POLICE have arrested nine people this morning as part of an operation led by Titan, the Northwest’s regional organised crime unit, tackling large-scale drug supply across the UK.

In a co-ordinated strike, officers from Titan, Police Scotland and Merseyside Police executed search warrants at six properties in Kirkdale, Breeze Hill, Garston, Huyton, Kirkby and Birkenhead as well as three in Scotland.

A search of a house in Birkenead is ongoing. No-one has been arrested at this time. 

A total of seven people –  five men and two women - were arrested during the dawn raids in Merseyside and Glasgow. 

Two men were arrested while in prison in northern England.

The arrests come as a result of a Titan investigation into the supply of  cocaine, heroin and amphetamine from the North-West into other parts of England and also Scotland.

Detectives from Titan were assisted by officers from Police Scotland and Merseyside Police during this morning’s activity.

All nine people are now in police custody at various police stations across the North-west where they will be questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Detective Superintendent Jason Hudson, head of operations at Titan, said: "Today’s arrests should strike a major blow to organised crime groups both here in our region and elsewhere in the UK.

"Our operation has uncovered large amounts of illegal drugs being supplied by criminals from the North-West to their counterparts in other towns and cities elsewhere in the UK.

"These drugs cause great damage to our communities, fuelling violent and acquisitive crime, causing addiction and ruining lives.

"Titan’s aim is to protect innocent, law abiding people from the huge harm that these drugs and the organised crime groups who profit from them do.

"Today has been another significant step forward in this fight and I would like to thank all the officers from both Titan and the local police forces for their hard work, professionalism and commitment.”

Detective Inspector Graeme Lindsay, of Police Scotland’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit said: "We are delighted to have worked jointly with Titan on today’s operation.

"Tackling organised crime is a very high priority for Police Scotland, and I hope today’s operation sends yet another warning signal to those involved in it that we will do everything we can to continue to identify them deal with them appropriately.

Organised crime is a blight on our communities, it causes untold misery across Scotland and indeed the UK. Our partnership with organisations such as Titan seeks to strengthen our capability to tackle such crime, share intelligence and assist in operations like the one today. We will continue to relentlessly pursue individuals involved in organised crime.”