Two further men charged with drugs and Modern Day Slavery offences

Detectives from our specialist County Lines unit, Project Medusa, have charged a further two men with Modern Day Slavery and drug supply offences as part of an ongoing investigation in the Newton-le-Willows area.

James Byott, 30, of Heriot Street, Vauxhall and Keane Mulligan, 18, of Vincent Street, St Helens, have both been charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and six offences under the Modern Slavery Act - arranging or facilitating the travel of another with a view to exploitation.

Byott appeared at Liverpool magistrates court and Mulligan appeared at Wirral adult remand court today, Friday 26^th April.

 Earlier this month Graham McEvoy, 19, of Market Street and Lewis Davies, 19, of Clarence Street, both Newton-le-Willows, were also charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and six offences under the Modern Slavery Act - arranging or facilitating the travel of another with a view to exploitation and remanded into custody as part of the same investigation.

Operation Toxic is part of Project Medusa – a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country.

If you have any information about suspected County Lines activity in your area DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999. More information can be found here: County lines | Merseyside Police.