WINTON – Two local women stand charged with marijuana possession after taking delivery of a package shipped from California.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan reported that Tarnecia Shevon Smith, 35, and 17-year-old Asunique Strong, both of 102 Main Street, Winton, were arrested June 19. They were each charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place to store a controlled substance.

Smith was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $40,000 secured bond. She was bonded out the same day. Strong remains jailed under a $30,000 secured bond.

Both women made their initial court appearance in Winton on Tuesday.

Vaughan said his office was alerted to this case by the Greenville Police Department. A K-9 officer there had “hit” on a package at a FedEx regional distribution facility.

“The package was found to contain two pounds of marijuana that was addressed to a Terrell June at 102 Main Street in Winton,” Vaughan said. “My office was contacted and a plan of action was put into place that would allow the package to be delivered to that address by an undercover officer posing as a FedEx delivery driver.”

That plan was carried out on June 19.

“Once the package was signed for by Smith and Strong, the driver left the residence and no more than 10 minutes later we were at that address serving our search warrant,” Vaughan said. “We located the package in the kitchen, but one-half of the marijuana was missing. A subsequent search of the remainder of the residence led to the discovery of the other pound of marijuana hidden in a closet.”

Vaughan said half of the pot had already been repackaged.

As far as Terrell June’s involvement in the case, Vaughan confirmed there was a person by that name living in Winton, but not at 102 Main Street.

“We’re still investigating any possible involvement in this case by Mr. June,” Vaughan stated.

HCSO officers involved in the case included Investigators Dexter Hayes and Brian Pearce, Chief Deputy Raymond Eure, Capt. Will Liverman, Sgt. Scott Cofield, Sgt. John Joyner and Deputy Chase Oliver. They were assisted by Lt. Joe Burgess of the Murfreesboro Police Department, Lt. Jeremy Roberts of the Ahoskie Police Department, ALE Agents Chris Johnson and Steve Stile, and Greenville Police Officer Vaughan Wiles.

“We thank all the cooperating agencies for their assistance as well as the cooperation of FedEx,” Vaughan said. “We will take what steps are necessary to slow down the sale and use of illegal drugs in Hertford County.”