BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NORTH MATEWAN, W.Va. — A joint operation between the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. 119 Drug Task Force netted over $21,000 cash and 100 grams combined of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl. The agencies seized the items while executing a search warrant Wednesday at a residence in North Matewan.

Two individuals, 33-year-old Shawnda L. Varney and 23-year-old Donald S. Kidwell, were arrested for possession with intent to deliver alprazolam, fentanyl and marijuana and three counts of drug conspiracy.

Mingo County Sheriff Joe Smith stated the investigation had been underway for some time, focusing on specific suspects and the residence where the arrests occurred.

“These drug busts are often accredited to tips we receive from members of the public who are fed up with drug activity in their neighborhoods,” Sheriff Smith said. “The public’s participation in reclaiming their communities plays a very important part in cleaning out the drugs and making our county a safer place to live, work and raise our families.”

The suspects are lodged in the Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden.