THREE people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences after police stopped a car that had been driven through the Wallasey tunnel.

Police spotted a BMW X3 heading through the tunnel towards Liverpool at around 6.45pm on Monday (November 25) and stopped it on nearby Jennifer Avenue on the city's outskirts.

The vehicle was searched and a quantity of bank notes were recovered. Two men, aged 36 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and possession of criminal property.

During a subsequent search of two properties a quantity of white powder and a large quantity of bank notes was also recovered.

A 47-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (cocaine).

All three are currently in custody.

The arrests came as part of our ongoing Operation Toxic which is part of Project Medusa - a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle suspected County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country.

Detective Sergeant Sean McNee said: “County Lines gangs have no regard for the young, vulnerable people they coerce in to running drugs across the country, often with threats of violence and intimidation.

“Merseyside Police leads nationally on the response to County Lines through Project Medusa and we will relentlessly target those crime groups who cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities.

"We know the devastation that drugs cause and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade."