An unexpected tip from a passerby near Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville set off an investigation that deputies say exposed a drone powered drug delivery plan. A vehicle stop near the prison turned up a drone and several packages of suspected narcotics, and officials say monitored inmate phone calls suggested people inside the facility were waiting on a contraband drop.
How Deputies Say The Bust Went Down
Deputies were called out on June 2 to the Harrelsonville Road area after a report of several people trespassing near the prison, according to WECT. Investigators soon spotted a vehicle that matched the description provided by the caller and pulled it over.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver as Jadynn Richardson and the passengers as Xavien Clay, Jonathan Hinnant and Javonte Chatman, the station reported. Members of the Special Operations Vice/Narcotics Unit assisted with the stop and search, and all four occupants were taken into custody.
Drone, Drugs And An Alleged Airdrop Plan
Inside the vehicle, investigators say they found a drone along with what appeared to be prepackaged contraband: about 38.69 grams of suspected THC wax or resin, 17.44 grams of suspected K2 paper, 6.32 grams of sublingual film and roughly 2 grams of marijuana, according to The Charlotte Observer. Officials said the suspected THC wax was hidden inside a glove.
The sheriff’s office reported that all suspected narcotics were collected, logged and submitted for testing and secure storage. Detectives also went back through monitored inmate phone calls and, according to investigators, heard conversations about using a drone to ferry drugs into the facility.
Felony Counts And Bond Amounts
The four suspects face multiple felony charges, including trafficking, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver controlled substances, conspiracy and related counts, according to the sheriff’s office. As reported by WECT, Richardson received a $275,000 secured bond, while Clay and Hinnant were each given $250,000 secured bonds. Chatman was held without bond because he was already out on bond at the time of his arrest. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing.
Why Prison Drone Drops Have Officials On Edge
Drones are one of several workarounds smugglers use to get contraband into prisons, a problem that criminal justice researchers say has only gotten more creative over time. The Marshall Project and other outlets have documented drugs entering facilities through staff, visitors and airborne drops.
Public health agencies note that products sold as “K2” are synthetic cannabinoids that are chemically different from marijuana and can have unpredictable effects, according to the CDC. Sublingual films such as buprenorphine/naloxone are legitimate medications for opioid use disorder but can also become lucrative contraband, per the FDA.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office publicly thanked the community member whose call kicked off the case and urged residents to report suspicious activity around correctional facilities. The investigation is ongoing and prosecutors are expected to review the evidence before formal case filings move forward.
