• Mon. Nov 4th, 2024

Drug dealing charges dropped after ‘modern slave’ defence accepted

Byoxfordnewspaper

Aug 14, 2022

Charges were dropped against an alleged drug runner who claimed he was the victim of modern slavery.

Agibou Deen, 27, of Cubitt Town, east London, had been charged with possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to supply it in Oxfordshire on October 22, 2020.

On Friday, prosecutor Alex Kettle-Williams told Judge Nigel Daly that the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed the case in light of a psychiatric report and Deen’s defence that he had been forced into the illicit trade as a ‘modern day slave’.

“Further consideration from the Crown’s perspective have led to that decision [to offer no evidence],” the barrister said.

Judge Daly told the defendant: “No evidence being offered in relation to both counts on this indictment, there will be not guilty verdicts on both counts.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward