A major police presence was spotted on a busy North Wales road this morning as a part of a series of drug raids.

Warrants were executed at rural premises on Deeside Lane in Sealand this morning (July 13) and equipment and chemicals were seized in connection with the commercial production of illegal drugs.

The raids, which were also conducted in Liverpool, are part of an international law enforcement operation including the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and North Wales Police.

Detective Inspector Lee Boycott of the North Wales Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: "This mornings events have seen a large number of officers, numerous partner agencies from the North Wales Region and Merseyside come together to investigate suspected illicit drugs production and trafficking activities.

"Enquiries are continuing at various locations, and I would urge anyone with information relating to drugs dealing in their community to contact us or alternatively speak to CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Under code name Op Venetic - officers from the NCA and other agencies across the UK have been assessing and interpreting intelligence gained when law enforcement partners in France and Holland took down a bespoke encrypted global communication service used exclusively by criminals to carry out their business.

With more than 60,000 users overseas and 10,000 in the UK, EncroChat is a secure mobile phone instant messaging service which is used by criminals to coordinate and plan the distribution of illicit commodities, money laundering and plots to kill rival criminals. keeping a close eye on the criminals involved.

Op Venetic has seen entire organised crime groups taken down as a result of the intelligence and nationally 746 arrests have been made and 54m criminal cash, 77 firearms and more than two tonnes of drugs seized.

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Major police presence in Sealand as part of commercial drugs bust - Cheshire Live