Teenager charged in connection with Southend drug ring
Eduard Cebuc, 19, of West Green Road, London's been charged with kidnap, a weapons offence and supplying class A drugs
Charges including kidnap and modern slavery have been levelled against a teenage suspect - believed to be involved in a drug line operating in Southend.
Officers with Op Raptor, a specialised Essex Police team dedicated to dismantling drug dealing networks operating in Essex, have conducted a lengthy investigation into a line bringing dangerous substances to the streets of Southend since January this year.
In May, a teenage boy was identified as being made to sell drugs against his will and had been reportedly threatened with violence.
On Friday 28 July, officers arrested a suspect in Southend on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
A search of a hotel room in Southend conducted as part of their enquiries uncovered an amount of drugs, a four-figure sum of cash and a taser.
They've have since charged Eduard Cebuc, 19, of West Green Road, London, with kidnap, a weapons offence, possessing criminal property, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Saturday 29 July and was remanded in custody until a further hearing at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 28 August.