Three charged in drugs and modern slavery inquiry

Three men have been charged as part of a invetigation into the supply of Class A drugs in Essex

Two men have been charged with modern slavery offences as part of an investigation into children allegedly being exploited by drug dealers.

Essex Police said a county lines operation was being run out of London into the county.

The two men have been charged with human trafficking and, along with a third man, they also face charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

All three men appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and are due to appear again at the city's crown court on 26 June, police said.

The force added that the investigation focused on the welfare of a number of children who were being exploited.

The men were arrested in London on Tuesday after officers from Essex and the capital searched properties and seized a number of items "significant to the investigation".

The full charge is human trafficking - arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

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."