Jail officials investigate attempt to smuggle drugs into Bourne facility

BOURNE – The Barnstable County Sheriff’s office is investigating an attempt to smuggle illegal narcotics into the jail by the use of legal inmate mail.

By law, mail from an attorney to their inmate client is not able to be opened outside the presence of the inmate receiving the mail.

Officials said information has been developed that someone attempted to conceal illegal narcotics disguised as mail from the attorney to an inmate client. 

The person printed an exterior envelope appearing to be from an attorney and included copies of legal materials in an effort to avoid detection from the screening process.

Also included in the envelope was a melted form of an opioid based narcotic. The illegal narcotics were discovered and seized.

“The person(s) responsible for attempting to use the United States mail system to introduce illegal narcotics into our correctional facility should know that they are violating Federal and State law and that the Sheriff’s Office intends to fully prosecute anyone we can build a case against” said Sheriff Jim Cummings.

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 268, Section 28, “Whoever gives or delivers to a prisoner in any correctional institution, or in any jail or house of correction, any drug…without the permission of the superintendent or keeper, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.” 

Federal Law also carries a penalty of up to ten years in Federal Prison.

The Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit is leading the investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service has also been notified. 

Anyone with information that may be helpful is encouraged to contact Special Sheriff Jeff Perry at the Sheriff’s Office at 508-563-4303.

 



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