Police use chainsaw to slice open suspected drug den

Intelligence suggested a group of violent teenagers had exploited a vulnerable female resident and taken over a property to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Officers from the Birmingham Organised Crime Unit forced entry into a flat in Aston on July 23.

A woman in her 20s was arrested as police recovered "what's believed to be cocaine" and drugs paraphernalia.

Officers are currently trying to trace teenagers aged between 15 and 18-years-old and the woman was released as enquiries continue.

Earlier in the day, officers from the same unit smashed their way inside a house in Ladywood which was suspected of being used by a drug dealer, but no one was arrested.

WATCH the moment police forced entry to the house:

This comes after West Midlands Police brought in 20 officers to double its Birmingham Organised Crime Unit in May to target gangs in the city.

The first six weeks of the enhanced unit saw 114 stop searches, 10 executed warrants at addresses and 19 vehicles and a stash of weapons seized.

More than 80 people, many of them with links to gangs, have also been arrested for drugs, firearms, vehicle and money laundering offences.

Part of the unit is also dedicated to diverting vulnerable people away from crime.

Superintendent Tom Joyce, who heads up the unit, said: “Officers assigned to the team are ring-fenced to tackle organised crime in all its forms − from street gangs involved in violence, drug dealing, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

“The extra resources allows us to be more proactive, increasing our patrols, executing warrants and really getting in the faces of people with suspected gang links, letting them know we’re out and about looking for them.

“Only last weekend we recovered a revolver, a viable firearm, and £74k in drugs.

"On a daily basis we are in key areas, stopping and searching people and vehicles we suspect could be linked to organised crime.

“The new team also offers the chance to tackle the real driver of organised crime, money.

"We will be doing more work with financial investigators in our Economic Crime Team, as well as partners such as HMRC and DWP to strip offenders of any cash or assets they may have made through crime.

“Working with our communities is vital in our mission to tackle organised crime. We hear from residents who are sick and tired of drug dealing and drug use in their communities and we’re taking action.

“If anyone suspects someone in the community is linked to crime, dealing drugs or carrying a weapon then please contact us in confidence.

"We don’t need your name, we just want information so we can make communities safer."

People can contact the force via live chat at west-midlands.police.uk or by calling 101.

Anonymous information can also be passed on to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.