Nine members of the Scouse Tom Organised Crime Group (OCG) have jailed after a year long operation.

The group who trafficked over a kilogram of Class A drugs between Merseyside and Kendal and the South Lakes and caused devastation to local communities with their extra-strong heroin have been jailed today, February 2 at Carlisle Crown Court.

The investigation involved officers from Kendal and Lakes Neighbourhood Policing Team and detectives from the Community Serious and Organised Crime Unit who worked in close partnership to dismantle the ‘Scouse Tom’ OCG, after launching Operation Forfeit in January 2022.

Speaking after sentencing Detective Inspector Jamie Eaton said: “Operation Forfeit was a significant operation which spanned many months.

“The aim was to disrupt and dismantle this Merseyside-based group trafficking Class A drugs into the Kendal and South Lakes area.

“Today’s substantial custodial sentences should serve as a warning to those thinking about establishing similar operations in our communities – we will catch you.

“We take a serious stance on county lines drugs criminals exploiting and targeting our communities and we will do everything in our power to put an end to these gangs operating in Cumbria.”

DI Eaton continued: “Bringing ten offenders to justice meant this was a challenging and complex investigation from the start but the dedication and perseverance of the officers involved resulted in the great result we saw at court today, substantial quantities of Class A drugs prevented from reaching our communities, and the seizure of significant quantities of cash.

“We are not complacent and recognise before too long another group will be foolish enough to try their hand.

“The support of our communities in reporting drug dealing is a key tool in tackling organised criminality and we encourage members of the public to get in touch with any information that might help us.”

Anyone with information about drugs offences can call police on 101 or report online at cumbria.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, completely anonymously, on 0800 555 111.