Chicago, IL – A 34-year-old man has been indicted for possession of contraband in a penal institution after officers found drug-soaked paper in his possession while he was in custody at Cook County Jail.
Officers from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office discovered the contraband during a routine pat-down search on May 16. They reportedly found a burnt tube of paper on Richard Lopez, which was later tested by the Illinois State Police. According to lab results, the paper tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid, a banned substance in the facility.
A Cook County Grand Jury indicted Lopez on Sept. 20 for the alleged possession of contraband. Jail authorities and the State Police are working together to investigate the origins of the drug-soaked material. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by jail officers to combat the smuggling of illegal substances into correctional facilities.
