Two men jailed for 10 years in Liverpool County Lines drug bust
County Lines Crackdown: Big Win for Merseyside Police
Two men tied to a County Lines drug trafficking ring were slammed with a combined 10-year prison sentence on Friday, February 21, 2025. Their convictions at Liverpool Crown Court mark another win for Merseyside Police in their fierce fight against organised crime. This operation was part of Operation Toxic, under the nationwide Project Medusa initiative targeting ruthless drug gangs.
The Guilty Parties and Their Sentences
- Lee Harrison, 27, from Liverpool Road, Huyton, got five years after admitting he was involved in supplying crack cocaine and heroin, plus possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
- Terence Rice, 36, of Bearwood Road, Tower Hill, Kirkby, got five years and two months for supplying crack cocaine and heroin and being caught with an offensive weapon.
The Dramatic Police Operation
On November 25, 2024, Merseyside officers acting on intel stopped a BMW X3 passing through the 1. The car was pulled over on Jennifer Avenue, leading to Harrison and Rice’s arrest.
A subsequent search of Harrison’s home uncovered a stash of cocaine worth between £4,760 to £11,900 — a smoking gun proving the scale of their drug ring. Rice was also caught with an offensive weapon, adding fuel to the fire.
The Poisonous Impact of County Lines
County Lines gangs exploit vulnerable people, often children, to run drugs across the UK, using violence and intimidation to maintain control. Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee of Merseyside Police said:
“County Lines gangs have no regard for the young, vulnerable people they coerce into running drugs across the country, often with threats of violence and intimidation. Merseyside Police leads nationally on the response to County Lines through Project Medusa, and we will relentlessly target those crime groups who cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities.”
Operation Toxic: Taking the Fight to Drug Lords
Operation Toxic is at the frontline of Merseyside’s war on County Lines, netting hundreds of arrests and seizing large hauls of Class A drugs, cash, and weapons. The operation forms part of Project Medusa, a nationwide crackdown aimed at:
- Disrupting County Lines networks
- Protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children
- Bringing exploiters and criminals to justice
This multi-agency approach teams up police, local authorities, social services, and national crime agencies to smash these vicious rings.
Communities: The Frontline in the Drug War
DS McNee challenged the public to stay alert and report suspicious activity:
“We know the devastation drugs cause. Merseyside Police are relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade. But we can’t do it alone. We need communities to be our eyes and ears — if you suspect County Lines activity, report it.”
Spotting County Lines Signs:
- Youth travelling alone on long trips
- Unfamiliar faces hanging around vulnerable homes (“cuckooing”)
- Spike in drug-related activity locally
How to Report Suspicious Activity:
- Contact Merseyside Police on Twitter: @MerPolCC
- Call 123 and NSPCC.
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