THREE men from Merseyside have been arrested on suspicion of being connected to the supply Class A drugs after a vehicle was stopped in Bangor.

A 24-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, both from the Dingle area and a 20-year-old man from the Aigburth area were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

They have since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.

The arrests part of a joint operation by North Wales Police and Merseyside Police, called Project Medusa, to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation.

A subsequent search of addresses was carried out in Liverpool, during which officers recovered a quantity of cash and a number of expensive items including an electric bike, a Tag Heuer watch, and designer clothing.

Detective inspector Gary Stratton, of Merseyside Police, said: "Yesterdays activity comes on the back of the work we’re carrying out day in, day out to arrest those involved in this type of criminality and shut down County Lines.

“Those involved blight the communities they deal drugs in and it’s a sad fact that these criminals are known to target vulnerable people to do their dirty work on the ground, often coercing them with gifts and more often than not, violence.

“Despite the global pandemic, it is business as usual for these criminals, who will carry out this type of activity, despite the restrictions that are in place, risking the health of everyone they come into contact with, when we should be doing all we can to halt the spread of the virus.

“Ultimately everyone should be warned that if you get involved in crime, you risk facing the consequences. But when we identify vulnerable, exploited people during our enquiries, we ensure they are treated with sensitivity and understanding, and are offered the appropriate support.

"Our primary target is those who seek to use them for their own selfish gain.”