Police Seize £40,000 and Blocks of Suspected Liverpool heroin 2026

Key Points

• Three people arrested following police raid in Liverpool on Saturday morning (23 May 2026)
• £40,000 in cash and 4.5kg of suspected heroin seized across two locations
• Two golf ball-sized bags containing suspected crack cocaine and heroin found in Toxteth living room
• £2,000 cash, cannabis resin, multiple phones and Tag Heuer watch recovered at Toxteth address
• £40,000 cash, three brick-sized blocks of suspected heroin found at Liverpool city centre apartment
• Drug dealing paraphernalia including electronic scales, mobile phones and empty snap bags recovered
• 65-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, released under investigation
• 58-year-old man arrested on same suspicions, bailed with conditions
• 27-year-old Liverpool woman arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drug, bailed with conditions
• Detective Inspector Jemma Berry emphasised public information vital to breaking down organised crime groups

Liverpool Crime (Liverpool Standard)May 26 ,2026 — Three people have been arrested after £40,000 in cash and 4.5kg of suspected heroin were found in Liverpool during a coordinated police operation on Saturday morning.

What Led to the Arrests and Seizure in Toxteth?

On Saturday morning (23 May 2026), officers from Merseyside Police attended an address in Toxteth as part of an investigation into suspected drug dealing activity. During a search of the property, officers discovered two golf ball-sized bags containing suspected crack cocaine and heroin in the living room, according to official police reporting. Alongside the drugs, officers recovered £2,000 in bank notes, cannabis resin, multiple mobile phones and a Tag Heuer wristwatch at the Toxteth location.

Two men were arrested at the Toxteth address. Following these arrests, police conducted a further search of an apartment in Liverpool city centre, where additional significant quantities of drugs and cash were discovered.

How Much Cash and Suspected Heroin Was Recovered Across Both Locations?

At the Liverpool city centre apartment, officers recovered £40,000 in bank notes and three large brick-sized blocks of suspected heroin. The search also uncovered drug dealing paraphernalia including mobile phones, electronic scales and empty snap bags — items commonly associated with drug distribution operations.

The total seizure across both locations amounts to £40,000 in cash and 4.5kg of suspected heroin, alongside smaller quantities of suspected crack cocaine and cannabis resin. This represents a significant intervention in what police believe was an organised drug dealing operation.

The £40,000 recovered at the city centre apartment alone indicates the substantial scale of the suspected criminal enterprise, as noted by Detective Inspector Jemma Berry in her statement.

Who Were the Three Arrested and What Are the Charges Against Them?

A 65-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and B controlled drugs (including suspected heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis resin), and acquire/use/possess criminal property. He has been released under investigation pending further inquiry.

A 58-year-old man was arrested on the same suspicions possession with intent to supply Class A and B controlled drugs and acquire/use/possess criminal property. He has been bailed with conditions.

A 27-year-old woman from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A controlled drug and acquire/use/possess criminal property. She has also been bailed with conditions.

As reported by Merseyside Police in their official statement, all three arrests were made on suspicion of serious drug offences and criminal property offences. The difference in bail status — with the 65-year-old released under investigation while the other two bailed with conditions — suggests police may be treating the cases differently based on individual circumstances.

What Did Detective Inspector Jemma Berry Say About the Seizure?

Detective Inspector Jemma Berry, speaking on behalf of Merseyside Police, stated: “A significant quantity of suspected heroin has been removed from our streets, which would have caused significant harm and that cause misery in our communities”.

Berry continued:

“Drug dealing affects those who live and work in the area, causing misery to families and often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people”.

She further emphasised:

“Criminals involved in organised crime have no thought for anyone other than themselves, and their criminal intent and greed”.

Berry stressed the importance of community cooperation: “Information from the public is vital if we are to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets”.

She concluded: “We urge people to continue coming forward with information and intelligence by either contacting us or anonymously through Crimestoppers so we can act”.

Why Is This Operation Important for Liverpool Communities?

The seizure of 4.5kg of suspected heroin represents a substantial disruption to what appears to be an organised drug dealing network operating in Liverpool. According to Detective Inspector Berry, this quantity of heroin “would have caused significant harm” if it had reached the streets.

Drug dealing operations like this one directly impact communities in multiple ways. As Berry noted, drug dealing “affects those who live and work in the area, causing misery to families”. The recovery of electronic scales, empty snap bags and multiple phones provides evidence of systematic drug distribution rather than personal use.

The presence of a high-value Tag Heuer wristwatch alongside £42,000 in total cash recovered suggests the significant financial scale of the suspected operation. Organised crime groups often use such displays of wealth, yet as Berry stated, these criminals “have no thought for anyone other than themselves”.

How Does Merseyside Police Continue to Combat Organised Drug Crime?

This operation demonstrates Merseyside Police’s ongoing commitment to disrupting organised crime groups operating in Liverpool. The coordinated search of two locations — one in Toxteth and another in Liverpool city centre illustrates the force’s strategy of following evidence across multiple properties.

Police emphasised that public information remains crucial to their efforts. Detective Inspector Berry explicitly stated that “information from the public is vital if we are to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets”.

The force encourages community members to report suspicious activity either directly to police or anonymously through Crimestoppers. This dual approach allows people to provide intelligence while protecting their identity if they fear retaliation from criminal groups.

The three arrests follow this pattern of using intelligence-led policing to target drug dealing networks. The fact that suspects were released under investigation or bailed with conditions indicates that police are continuing their inquiry rather than concluding it.

Background of This Drug Seizure Development

This arrest and seizure operation occurred within the broader context of Merseyside Police’s ongoing crackdown on organised drug crime in Liverpool. The Force has been conducting intelligence-led operations targeting drug distribution networks across the city, with particular focus on Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine.

The Toxteth area has historically experienced challenges with drug-related crime, and this operation represents continued police presence and investigation in the community. The discovery of drugs in a living room at a residential address highlights how drug dealing operations often operate from ordinary homes, making them difficult to detect without specific intelligence.

The scale of the seizure — £40,000 cash and 4.5kg suspected heroin — places this operation among the more significant drug busts in recent Liverpool history. The recovery of drug paraphernalia including electronic scales and empty snap bags provides concrete evidence of commercial drug dealing rather than personal possession.

The three arrested individuals span different age groups (65, 58, and 27 years old), suggesting the drug operation involved multiple generations or a network of associates rather than a single individual operating alone. The woman’s arrest specifically on suspicion of Class A drug offences aligns with police targeting all participants in the distribution chain.

This operation follows standard UK policing procedures where suspects arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply can be released under investigation or bailed with conditions while police continue their inquiry. The charges relate to both drug offences and property offences under the Criminal Damage Act and Proceeds of Crime legislation.

What Impact Will This Development Have on Liverpool Residents and Families?

This development will affect Liverpool residents and families in several measurable ways. The removal of 4.5kg of suspected heroin from circulation means fewer drugs available for distribution, which should reduce drug availability in local communities. According to Detective Inspector Berry, this quantity “would have caused significant harm and misery in our communities” had it reached streets.

Local families living near the searched properties may feel increased reassurance that police are actively targeting drug dealing in their neighbourhoods. The operation demonstrates police commitment to protecting communities from exploitation by organised crime groups.

However, residents should also recognise that arrests and bail conditions do not guarantee convictions. The three suspects remain on bail or under investigation, meaning legal proceedings continue. This extended process can create uncertainty for communities waiting to see if justice is served.

The seizure of £40,000 cash and high-value items suggests police may pursue criminal property confiscation under proceeds of crime legislation. If successful, this could remove financial resources from the criminal network, weakening its operational capacity.

For vulnerable individuals in Liverpool who might have been exploited by this drug operation, this intervention could prevent further exploitation. As Berry noted, drug dealing “often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people”.

The continued emphasis on public reporting means residents who provide information may see further police action in their areas. This creates a cycle where community cooperation leads to more arrests and seizures, potentially reducing drug-related crime overall.

Local businesses in Toxteth and Liverpool city centre may benefit from reduced drug-related activity, as drug dealing often deters legitimate commerce. The operation signals to criminal elements that police remain vigilant in both residential and commercial areas.

Yet residents should maintain realistic expectations. One operation, even significant, does not eliminate organised drug crime from Liverpool entirely. Continuous public reporting and sustained police presence remain necessary to achieve lasting reduction in drug-related harm.