Operation Vermont: Drugs raids and arrests in St Helens

Operation Vermont

Officers ran Operation Vermont on March 22 and made 15 arrests, executed warrants in connection with drug crime, and searched vehicles.

Police say the aim of the operation is to reduce crime and disorder, disrupt organised crime, improve road safety and provide reassurance to our local communities of the positive work ongoing here in St Helens every day.

Drugs warrants were executed (Image: Merseyside Police)

Police actions

The actions taken by police included: 

• A drugs warrant was executed in the Parr area. A man was arrested on suspicion of drugs importation and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of illegal drugs following a stop check of a vehicle. This resulted in a quantity of cash being seized from an address in Clock Face.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs following officers witnessing an alleged drugs transaction in the street.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply illegal drugs suspected to be Class A. A search revealed further Class A drugs, cash, and other drug supply material within an address.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs following officers witnessing a suspected drugs transaction. Further search revealed more Class B drugs and drug supply material within an address.

• A drugs warrant was executed at another address in Parr. A "high value electric bike" was recovered from the address, which is suspected stolen.

A bike was seized after a warrant (Image: Merseyside Police)

• A vehicle was stopped in St Helens with two women occupants on board. A search of the occupants and vehicle revealed a quantity of suspected Class A drugs. Both women were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. A vehicle had been stopped due to underinflated tyre. Police allege the driver failed a roadside drug test for cannabis.

• A man was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and driving with a defective tyre.

• A stolen motorbike was recovered on The Dream site. The bike was shown as outstanding stolen from the Warrington area since March 17, 2023.

15 arrests made

In a statement police added: "A big thank you to our partners at St Helens Council Trading Standards who greatly assisted in our road side operation.

"The operation resulted in countless intelligence submissions, vehicle seizures, eight properties searched, five vehicles searched, approximately £2,500 cash seized and a total of 15 arrests.

"We hope to build upon that intelligence and continue to target crime and anti-social behaviour across St Helens in 2023."

Items seized by police during the operation (Image: Merseyside Police)

How to report crime

Anyone who wishes to report crime, please contact police by:

• Merpol CC – Facebook
• Merseyside Police Contact Centre – Twitter
• 101 – Non-Emergency
• 999 – Emergency
• People can report inteligence anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.