A MAN has been charged as part of an investigation into county lines drug dealing and labour exploitation in Evesham.

Hamza Mahmood was arrested and charged on Tuesday, (April 20), for two counts of supplying class-A drugs.

He was also charged for the offence of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Detective Sergeant Luke Papps said: “The associated harm with county lines such as criminal exploitation, cuckoo-ing and street violence is far-reaching and we will not stop in our efforts to relentlessly pursue those involved.”

The 20-year-old, from of Kingswood Road, Moseley, Birmingham, has been remanded to custody and will appear at Worcester Crown Court on May 20.

West Mercia Police said the charge had been part of West Mercia Police’s Protect campaign, aimed at tackling serious organised crime together with partner agencies.