A NORTHWICH man arrested in a County Lines drugs raid has admitted to offences involving crack cocaine and heroin.

Merseyside Police carried out raids on several properties in the town at the end of January in a further clampdown on county lines drug dealing across the region.

Five people were arrested in the raids, one of which was Ryan Bailey from Lostock Gralam, who was subsequently charged with possession and intention to supply both crack cocaine and heroin.

The 28-year-old appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, February 24, where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Police carried out the warrants as part of the ongoing Project Medusa, a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation. 

The warrants were executed in a joint operation with Cheshire Police at a properties on Station Road and Austin Street. 

Detective Inspector Gary Stratton said: "Project Medusa is committed to cutting County Lines and this type of activity will continue day in day out to take those criminals, who control these lines, off our streets. 

"County Lines drug dealing not only affects the lives of the drug users, but also the communities in which they operate and the young and vulnerable people who are exploited by these criminals."

Bailey will return to Chester Crown Court to be sentenced on April 1.

Three other suspects (two men and one woman) arrested following the raids were released pending further investigations.