Jail Finds Drugs Stashed in Kids' Drawings

A woman is accused of using children's drawings to smuggle prescription drugs to her boyfriend in a New Jersey jail. Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano says staff noticed something strange about mail addressed to inmate Michael Gill on June 15, the AP reports. A K-9 unit was called and alerted on what turned out to be the opioid Suboxone concealed in the drawings, authorities say. The prescription drug, which usually comes in patch form or as a film that can be placed under the tongue, is used to help people addicted to heroin or other opiates avoid withdrawal symptoms, but can produce a high of its own when abused.

The sheriff says another letter with children's drawings addressed to Gill arrived June 20 and more mail was sent to the jail eight days later. Again, suspected Suboxone was found hidden in the drawings, authorities say. The sheriff tells the Courier News of Bridgewater that to to prevent copycats, he won't disclose how the drug was concealed in the drawings. Authorities charged 37-year-old Casey Giles, of Bridgewater, with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. She was jailed on $20,000 bail. Gill was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance, and his bail was set at $10,000. (More New Jersey stories.)