Southend: Modern slavery charges in drugs line investigation

Specialist officers working to dismantle a sophisticated drugs line have charged four people as part of their investigation.

Our Operation Raptor team, which is dedicated to disrupting and taking down drug dealing gangs across Essex, has spent seven months probing a high-risk line in Southend.

The team’s work has seen four men charged with a range of offences, including modern slavery offences.

Ron Whyte, 30, from London, has been charged with requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug.

Tarelle Thompson, 26, of Almsgate, Compton, Guildford, has been charged with two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug.

Niah Carter, 26, of Copperwood Place, London, faces a count of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Jhordan Antoine, 30, of Lorrimore Road, London, faces two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug.

All four defendants appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 18 July and were remanded in custody until a further hearing at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday 15 August.

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