Man and woman named after probe into child criminal exploitation

Two suspects have been named in connection to a county lines and child criminal exploitation operation. Merseyside Police confirmed detectives investigating county lines in the L4 area of Liverpool have charged a man and woman with class A drug offences.

Lee Grace, 22, from Tettenhall, Chester has been charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (heroin and crack) and Carla Belteki, 22, from Hawthorne Road, Bootle, is charged in concern with the supply of Class A drugs (cocaine). They were both remanded into custody before appearing in Liverpool Magistrates' Court today, October 2.

The charges come as part of Operation Toxic, a Merseyside-led initiative which as been set up by Merseyside Police to tackle suspected county lines crime groups and child criminal exploitation across the country. Sergeant Kevin Roberts: “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.

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“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.”

If you have any information about county lines activity in your area DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999. More information can be found here: County lines | Merseyside Police.