Times, The (London, England)-June 27, 1987
Author: MICHAEL HORSNELL

Police were questioning a man last night in connection with the murders of two schoolboys following an investigation into a paedophile organization in east London.

The man, who has not been charged, is being quizzed over the killing of Jason Swift, aged 14, described as a rent boy, and Barry Lewis, aged six.

Jason disappeared from his sister’s home in Hackney, north-east London, nearly two years ago and his body was found in a copse near Ongar, Essex, four months later.

Barry vanished from his home in Deptford, south-east London and his unclothed body was found at Waltham Abbey, Essex in December 1985, about six miles from Jason’s.

A joint operation code-named Operation Stranger was launched early in 1986, when it was established that both boys had been drugged before being suffocated.

During their inquiries police uncovered a network of alleged child molesters, based in Mare Street, Hackney.

Six men have already been charged with offences of gross indecency against a number of children aged between five and 15, which are alleged to have been carried out for up to five years.