THE controller of a county line that flooded Widnes and Runcorn with class A drugs has been locked up.

Jack Chew was identified by Operation Toxic officers from Merseyside Police as part of an investigation into the supply of illegal substances.

Operation Toxic is part of Project Medusa – a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation.

The 24-year-old was found to be running the ‘Frosty’ line that was used to deal crack cocaine and heroin in the two towns.

Chew, of Dam Wood Road in Speke, was arrested by officers in October 2023 and later charged and remanded into custody.

For being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin, he was jailed for five years at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday.

The sentence was welcomed by DI Gary Stratton, who said: “Through our investigation, we were able to prove that Chew was the controller of a drugs line operating into Widnes and Runcorn.

“The jailing of criminals like Chew who sell drugs and harm vulnerable people in our communities continues on a daily basis.

“We know the devastation that drugs cause, and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade.

“We thank members of the public who share information with us about drug dealing or any vulnerability they see, because this intelligence is vital to protecting our communities.”

If you have any information about county lines activity in your area, call the police on 101, or always 999 in an emergency, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.