After a painstaking investigation over several months, officers from North Wales Police, alongside colleagues from Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester Police yesterday mounted a joint operation around County Lines and associated Modern Day Slavery.

In total, nine people were arrested at addresses across the North West and North Wales, and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs, cash and mobile phones were seized.

Six men have been charged with a variety of offences including Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs and offences under the Modern Day Slavery Act, following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. 

Wesley Hankin (30) from Portland, Callum Wright (19) from the Wrexham area, 24 year old Darren Courtney from Runcorn, Michael Hill (26) from Wrexham, Gareth Mark Jones (40) from Widnes and 20 year old Joshua Ellerbrook, from St Helens will all appear before Magistrates in Llandudno today. 

Three other people have been released on bail pending further investigation.