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South Essex: Fifth drugs-related death within 36 hours South Essex: Drugs-related death toll rises to six
(about 7 hours later)
A fifth person has died in a series of drugs-related deaths within a five-mile (8km) radius in the space of 36 hours. A sixth suspected drug-related death has been identified by police investigating the sale of Class A drugs in Essex.
Essex Police said the woman in her 40s was found dead on Canvey Island, Essex, on Tuesday. The death of woman in her 30s, who was found in Southend on Sunday morning, has now been linked.
Earlier, Essex Police said the death of a woman her 40s in Canvey Island on Tuesday may also be connected.
It followed the deaths of three men and a woman in Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea, Canvey Island and Benfleet.It followed the deaths of three men and a woman in Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea, Canvey Island and Benfleet.
Essex Police said the deaths were an "obvious concern" and were possibly linked to the taking of Class A drugs. It warned against taking them. Tests are being carried out to identify the substance or substances are involved, Essex Police said.
Det Ch Insp Stephen Jennings, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said officers were "working hard" to establish if the deaths were linked. It said the deaths, which all occurred within a six-mile (10km) radius, were an "obvious concern".
He said: "Part of that work is to identify exactly what the substance or substances involved are and more tests are needed to do that. Ch Supt Kevin Baldwin said the force has "dedicated officers working around the clock" on the investigation.
"At this stage I believe the deaths may be linked to the taking of Class A drugs and I would urge anyone considering taking them not to." He added: "We believe these incidents are contained to the south of the county but part of our inquiries is to see whether other parts of Essex are affected.
He also urged anyone with information about the sale of Class A drugs in the county to contact police. "We believe the deaths are linked to the taking of Class A drugs and are carrying out tests to establish exactly what the substance or substances involved are.
"Until we have the results of those tests we're not going to speculate about what's involved or how it was taken."
The force has urged anyone with information about the sale of Class A drugs in the county to contact them.
On Monday, a man in his 20s was found dead at an address in Leigh-on-Sea and a woman in her 30s died in Westcliff-on-Sea.On Monday, a man in his 20s was found dead at an address in Leigh-on-Sea and a woman in her 30s died in Westcliff-on-Sea.
Earlier on Tuesday, a man in his 40s died at an address on Canvey Island and a man in his 20s was found dead in Benfleet. On Tuesday, a man in his 40s died at an address on Canvey Island and a man in his 20s was found dead in Benfleet.