Two women are facing drug dealing charges after a series of police raids across the West Midlands led to the discovery of a significant haul of illegal substances and a dangerous weapon.
Triple raids uncover illicit haul
Officers from the West Midlands Police County Lines Taskforce executed three simultaneous warrants on Monday, December 22. The operations targeted properties in the Great Barr, Balsall Heath, and Wednesbury areas.
During the searches, police recovered a large quantity of both Class A and Class B drugs. Alongside the narcotics, they also seized a machete, cash, multiple mobile phones, and a substantial amount of designer clothing and drug paraphernalia.
Suspects charged and in court
Following the raids, police arrested two women in connection with the finds. Rhona Fry, 27, of Queslett Way in Great Barr, and Ansheleena Hamilton, 38, of Meeting Street in Wednesbury, were both taken into custody.
Both suspects were subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. They were scheduled to appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court on the morning of Tuesday, December 23.
Ongoing fight against County Lines
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police confirmed the seizures, stating the warrants were part of an ongoing investigation into a drugs line operating in the region. The County Lines Taskforce is a specialised unit dedicated to dismantling networks that exploit vulnerable people and channel drugs from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.
The force emphasised that the recovery of the machete highlights the serious violence often associated with these criminal operations. The investigation remains active as officers continue to analyse the seized evidence.
The court appearance for Fry and Hamilton took place as planned, though the specific outcomes of the hearing were not immediately confirmed by the court authorities.
