{"id":730998,"date":"2026-01-30T14:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/730998\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T14:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:26:14","slug":"liverpool-drug-gang-boss-wanted-after-fleeing-police-for-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/730998\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool drug gang boss wanted after fleeing police for months"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Anthony Akins was sentenced for his leading role in a drug gang<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police \" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_OWR_LECH_240925_MPOLICE2_03.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police (Image: Merseyside Police )<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The boss of a drug gang who was jailed for 11 years is wanted on recall having evaded police for at least four months. Officers continue to appeal for the public&#8217;s help in tracing Anthony Akins who has failed to attend appointments after serving his sentence for conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The now-35-year-old from <a aria-label=\"KnowsleyLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/knowsley\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Knowsley<\/a>, was one of two ring leaders of a drug gang which oversaw an operation of peddling the class A drugs into Ellesmere Port, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/courts\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Liverpool Crown Court<\/a> previously heard. He directed significant associates to manage phone lines &#8211; known as grafts &#8211; to advertise the sale of crack cocaine and heroin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They would then flood the streets with class A drugs until their demise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In December 2017, following an investigation known as Operation Masterclass, officers executed 11 search warrants at addresses in Ellesmere Port and Merseyside.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police \" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_OWR_LECH_240925_MPOLICE2JPG.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside Police (Image: Merseyside Police )<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Akins was one of ten who were sentenced for their roles in the organised crime gang.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He is now wanted by police on recall to prison after failing to attend appointments following his sentence, Merseyside Police said. <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/liverpool-news\/crack-heroin-gang-who-dealt-15185464\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Akins is described as 6ft tall, of heavy build with short black hair, and uses a wheelchair.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It comes after the police appealed for help in September last year to find the organised crime ringleader.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He has links to <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/huyton\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Huyton<\/a>, Roby, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/prescot\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Prescot<\/a>, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/st-helens\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">St Helens<\/a> and Ellesmere Port.If you see Akins, contact us via @MerPolCC on X or \u2018Merseyside Police Contact Centre\u2019 on <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/facebook\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Facebook<\/a> with reference 25000692712 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For the latest news and breaking news visit <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our <a aria-label=\"daily and breaking newsletterLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/data.reachplc.com\/212764146160855\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">daily and breaking newsletter<\/a>. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/data.reachplc.com\/212764146160855\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Follow us on <a aria-label=\"XLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/twitter\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">X<\/a> <a aria-label=\"@LivECHONewsLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LivEchonews\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">@LivECHONews<\/a> or on <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/liverpoolecho.co.uk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk <\/a>&#8211; official Liverpool ECHO accounts &#8211; real news in real time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We&#8217;re also on <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theliverpoolecho\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Facebook\/theliverpoolecho<\/a> &#8211; your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anthony Akins was sentenced for his leading role in a drug gang Anthony Akins is wanted by Merseyside&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730999,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,188,393,4884,16552,458,179,274,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-730998","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-crime","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-huyton","13":"tag-knowsley","14":"tag-liverpool","15":"tag-merseyside-police","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115984517428881055","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}