By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- • The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana says two women attempted to smuggle contraband into the parish jail using plastic crows.
- • Deputies allegedly found the contraband hidden inside the toy birds during a routine inmate screening.
- • The women were visiting an inmate when the items were detected and seized.
- • Both were arrested and charged with introduction of contraband into a penal institution.
- • Officials say the incident underscores ongoing challenges with contraband prevention in correctional facilities.
GRANT PARISH, La. — Two women were arrested and charged after allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband into the Grant Parish Jail by concealing it inside plastic crows, the sheriff’s office said.
The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office said deputies discovered the hidden items during a routine screening of visitors on Monday. The women were at the facility to see an inmate when officers detected irregularities with the items they were carrying.
Upon further inspection, deputies found contraband concealed within the hollow bodies of the plastic birds. The sheriff’s office did not immediately specify the type or quantity of contraband seized but said it was intended for an inmate inside the jail.
Both women were arrested and booked on charges of introducing contraband into a penal institution, a felony offense in Louisiana. They remain in custody pending further legal proceedings, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said the incident highlights the ongoing challenge correctional facilities face in preventing contraband from entering secure areas. Law enforcement personnel continue to review visitation procedures to identify any gaps and improve detection methods.