m = re.match(r'^UTC([\+|\-][\d]{1,2}):00$', tz_str)

    if not m:

        return 0

    hours = int(m.group(1))

    time = datetime.strptime(dt_str, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')

    tz_utc = timezone(timedelta(hours=hours))

    time = time.replace(tzinfo=tz_utc)

    return time.timestamp()