SerpApi.Org
An ambitious jailhouse smuggling operation came unraveled in an unusual way, when guards discovered an incoming prisoner was stuffed with “packages” of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, according to investigators in eastern North Carolina.
The arrest happened July 14 at the Halifax County Detention Center, and an affidavit reports the man was hauling 17.52 grams of marijuana, 4.22 grams of Suboxone, 7.51 grams of amphetamine, plastic wrap, rolling papers and matches.
Details of where exactly the contraband was hidden were not released.
“Agents received information that inmates inside the detention center were conspiring with individuals on the outside to smuggle items into the center by having someone conceal items inside their body then get arrested on a bogus warrant,” the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 20 news release.
“Agents identified numerous people involved inside the jail and numerous people that were not incarcerated. Agents were able to identify 31-year-old Andrew Franz of Roanoke Rapids as being the person who was going to be arrested and have the items concealed on or inside his body.”
Franz had an outstanding warrant for injury to personal property, and he put the plan in motion on July 14 by turning himself in to Roanoke Rapids police, officials said.
“Franz was met at the detention center by agents and quickly realized the plan was not going to go as smooth as he and the others thought it would,” the sheriff’s office said. “Agents applied for a search warrant and Franz was taken to ECU North (hospital) where numerous packages of contraband were removed from him.”
Franz was then taken back to jail and charged with: felony conspiracy; conspiring to deliver Schedule II controlled substance; conspiring to deliver Schedule III controlled substance; conspiring to deliver Schedule VI controlled substance; felony possession of a controlled substance inside jail premises; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to manufacture and distribute Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture and distribute a Schedule III controlled substance; simple possession of Schedule II controlled substance; simple possession of Schedule III controlled substance; simple possession of Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said.
Nine additional people linked to the conspiracy were also charged, including three who are already in the jail, officials said.
The Halifax County Detention Center is about an 80-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh.
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