Police acted on information provided by residents

Officers arrested 23 people on Tuesday, as well as recovering class A drugs, and uncovering a cannabis factory in the raids.

Merseyside Police were joined by officers from Cheshire in Operation Cray, which targeted 28 addresses in Speke, Garston and Widnes.

The raids were prompted by information provided to police by residents about the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Searches of the addresses were being carried out throughout Tuesday.

Those arrested - 21 men and two women - were due to be questioned by officers.

'Not untouchable'

Superintendent Justine Curran, said: "Operation Cray is the result of a year's work in and around south Liverpool and heralds the beginning of a wider operation to remove the criminals who form the higher echelons of the drugs trade.

"Merseyside Police has a message to those who think their tight-knit drug dealing fraternities are untouchable - you are not.

"We will not tolerate drug dealing on Merseyside, and, through operations like this, we will be keeping the pressure on the drug criminals."

High-visibility patrols will be deployed in the area to reassure residents, and a community forum held in the area later in the week.