A man from Redbridge is among two people from east London charged after three drug-related deaths in Essex.

Bryan Tegunde, 19, of Cambridge Park Road in Wanstead, was arrested as part of Essex Police’s investigation into drug supply in Colchester that is linked to these deaths.

Essex Police found that two of the victims sadly died in Colchester over the weekend on May 11 and 12, and a third death was reported on Tuesday (May 14).

A fourth man was also taken ill on May 14, the police said, but medics were able to treat him, and he survived.

Officers believe that each of these incidents are related to consumption of Class A drugs.

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Three people were arrested as part of ongoing enquiries by specialist officers from Essex Police’s Operation Raptor.

Tegunde was among these and has since been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 16).

20-year-old Sabrino Hajderaj, of Sunny Bank in Croydon, was also charged with possessing a bladed article in a public space, possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (May 15) and was remanded in custody until a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on June 12.

A 21-year-old man from London has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Inspector Mark Jones, of Raptor North said seeing deaths due to Class A drug use is the “sad reality of the risk posed by these substances”.

Essex Police’s work investigating a county line of interest is “progressing well”, he added, and officers are “working tirelessly” to ensure those suspected of supplying Class A drugs in Colchester are stopped.

He said: “Every day across the county, our specialist teams from Essex Police's Serious Violence Unit work hard to dismantle county lines and safeguard our communities. But we appreciate concern will be heightened as a result of these three deaths.

“Drugs are illegal for a reason – they are dangerous and can cause real harm to those who use them.

“We would always urge people not to take any illegal substances.

“We strongly advise all drug users to get support from experts, such as those at Open Road. You can find out more on where to get help here: Referral services | Essex Police”

Inspector Christopher Coyles, of Colchester’s Local Policing Team, added that alongside Raptor officers, Colchester’s community policing team will be maintaining a visible presence in the city – patrolling areas such as Castle Park and the city centre.

“We will also be keeping up those patrols to identify where there is any suspicious activity and to identify or safeguard anyone who may be at risk”, he said.