A SUSPECTED member of a drug trafficking gang was arrested during a raid by the National Crime Agency this morning.

Officers executed a search warrant at a property in the Bewsey area earlier today, Tuesday, supported by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

The NCA detained a 55-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of conspiracy to supply and import controlled drugs, conspiracy to launder money and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

It follows a long-running investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering by the agency.

In June, five men and a woman were arrested during raids on the Wirral and in North Wales as part of the same probe while a number of high value cars – including a Mercedes and Land Rover – were seized, as well as two Rolex watches and around £5,000 in cash.

The NCA’s regional head of investigations Paul Williamson said: “Today’s arrest shows that we are relentless in our pursuit of organised criminals who dominate and intimidate communities as part of their drug trafficking activities.

“We suspect this individual is a member of an organised crime group that has imported drugs on numerous occasions for distribution to criminal associates across the country.”

This gang is believed to have used legitimate haulage companies to move generators from the UK to Belgium and freight forwarding companies in the Netherlands, which were then routed back to the same addresses in this country with cocaine and heroin stashed inside.

In March 2019, one load of class A drugs was intercepted at Dover while in June last year two loads were seized in the Netherlands.

A total of 111kg of cocaine and heroin was recovered, drugs worth around £9million at street level.

The NCA was unable to confirm whereabouts in Bewsey this morning’s raid took place.