POLICE have arrested three suspected drug dealers, with two facing modern slavery charges for allegedly exploiting children as part of a county lines operation.

Essex Police says the men are suspected of being involved in supplying Class A drugs from London and confirmed they will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on June 26.

The arrests come as part of a significant crackdown into county line drug dealers, many of whom “flood the Colchester and Kelvedon area with drugs”, according to one prominent judge.

Gazette: Charged – three men have appeared in court and been chargedCharged – three men have appeared in court and been charged (Image: Newsquest)

Police say a number of items which are significant to the investigation were seized from the three men, who were named as Fhazio Mulindwa, 33, Bamba Njie, 23, and Devontai Nisbeth, 19.

Mulindwa, of Brooks Road, Newham, is charged with four counts of human trafficking, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Njie, of Rayne Court, Redbridge, is charged with two counts of human trafficking, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Nisbeth, of The Broadway, Loughton, is charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Four people in Colchester have been the victim of drug overdoses in recent weeks, with concerns raised by the Open Road charity that synthetic opioids had been infused with heroin, making the substance even more deadly.

Essex Police announced seven arrests were made last month as part of Operation Raptor, designed to disrupt supply lines.

Gazette: Courts – the three men will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court later this monthCourts – the three men will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court later this month (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Det Sgt Jonathan Stephenson said: “We often speak about how and why we target drug lines which we suspect to be working in Essex, not only focusing on the supply of those drugs but also how that supply is being organised.

“In Essex, our Operation Raptor teams don’t just enforce – when the situation calls for it, we also have people in place who can identify people being exploited and ultimately offer them the help which they may need.

“We won’t stop this. Our work consistently shows that if you think you can supply drugs in Essex, you’re wrong. You’ll be identified, you’ll be arrested and you’ll be charged.”

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