![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Ket-1.jpg\")
A search of the vehicle uncovered 35 white sacks containing approximately 875 kilograms of ketamine(Image: NCA)<\/p>\nThe man will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court<\/p>\n
12:43, 18 Sep 2025Updated 19:37, 18 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
A search of the vehicle uncovered 35 white sacks containing approximately 875 kilograms of ketamine(Image: NCA)<\/p>\n
A man has been named after police found \u00a317m worth of suspected ketamine in a van. Officers from the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) and Merseyside Police stopped a van on the East Lancashire Road on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 16.<\/a><\/p>\n A search of the vehicle uncovered 35 white sacks<\/a> containing approximately 875 kilograms of what is believed to be ketamine. Paul Farrelly, 46, of Redbank Close, Fazakerley<\/a>, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class B drugs (ketamine).<\/p>\n He is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates\u2019 Court <\/a>today, Thursday, September 18. Detective chief inspector Tony Roberts<\/a> of the Merseyside OCP described the seizure as a major success in the fight against organised crime.<\/a><\/p>\n He previously said: \u201cMerseyside OCP has made a significant seizure of a drug which is posing an increasing threat to UK communities. Our operation has ensured that this large quantity of ketamine will never make it on to UK streets and endanger drug users.<\/p>\n \u201cMerseyside OCP is working relentlessly to identify and arrest organised criminals who are profiting from the destruction and violence caused by the drugs trade.\u201d<\/p>\n In Liverpool, councillors have said the region is in the grip of a \u2018ketamine crisis\u2019<\/a>. According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9% of 16 to 24-year-olds reported using ketamine between April 2023 and March 2024.<\/p>\n This was down slightly from the previous year, when usage levels hit a record 3.8% for the age group.<\/p>\n In January, the Home Office said it would seek expert advice on reclassifying the drug from its current controlled class B status to the more serious class A.<\/p>\n Currently, the maximum penalty for supplying and producing ketamine is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.<\/p>\n Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter<\/a>. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us on X<\/a> @LivECHONews<\/a> or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk <\/a>– official Liverpool ECHO accounts – real news in real time<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter<\/a>. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us on X<\/a> @LivECHONews<\/a> or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk <\/a>– official Liverpool ECHO accounts – real news in real time<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758235696_834_0_Ket-1.jpg\")
A search of the vehicle uncovered 35 white sacks containing approximately 875 kilograms of ketamine(Image: NCA)<\/p>\n