February 5, 2026
-
From The New York Prison Guard Union, NYSCOPBA:
Three women were arrested on charges of Promoting Prison Contraband after attempting to smuggle nearly two pounds of marijuana to inmates through the visitor process area at a maximum-security correctional facility. All three attempts were thwarted by prison staff with the assistance of a K9 unit.
The first arrest occurred on December 20, when a K9 alerted to a female visitor from Buffalo in the visitor processing area. During an interview with investigators, the woman voluntarily turned over four bundles concealed inside her shirt. The bundles contained a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana and weighed approximately 50 grams. State Police responded and transported the woman to the Horseheads barracks, where she was charged with Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree.
The second arrest took place the following day. A K9 alerted to a female visitor from Rochester. After being interviewed, she surrendered two clear bundles concealed in her shirt. The bundles contained a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana and weighed close to two pounds. She was transported to the Horseheads barracks and charged with Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.
The third arrest occurred on January 18. A female visitor from Port Jefferson arrived at the facility accompanied by her young daughter and son. While in the visitor processing area, a K9 alerted on the young child. An investigator observed a bulge in the child’s waistband and saw the mother attempting to push the items further into the child’s pants. When confronted, the woman surrendered two clear bundles containing 23 grams of marijuana, 36 rolling papers, and two sheets of liquid-stained paper believed to contain drugs. The woman and her children were transported to the Horseheads barracks. She was charged with three counts of Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. All three suspects were issued appearance tickets and released.
“Staff did an excellent job, along with their K9 partners, in detecting visitors attempting to smuggle drugs into the hands of inmates through the visitor process,” said NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold. “The final arrest was especially disturbing, as a mother used her young child to try to smuggle drugs into the prison. As with the watered-down disciplinary system inside our facilities, all three suspects were released with appearance tickets and will likely not be held accountable for their actions due to failed laws. Without accountability, this conduct will continue without end. Responsibility lies with the State Legislature, which ushered in these so-called progressive criminal justice policies that are now impacting safety both inside and outside the walls of our prisons.”
