Drug smuggling has, and likely always will be, a thing. We’ve seen some pretty creative methods criminals have smuggled narcotics—from drones, to air cannons, to cleverly concealed coconuts. The list goes on.
The latest entry to this illustrious catalog of smuggled drugs comes courtesy of a certain classic south-of-the-border entree— the burrito.
Not Your Grandmother’s Burrito
You’re not likely to get this kind of burrito at your local Chipotle. You’d also likely get arrested if you even asked.
According to a report from Colorado’s local NBC affiliate, 9News.com, a Colorado corrections officer is in hot water after allegedly attempting to sneak in a drug-filled burrito into the Buena Vista Correctional Facility last week.
Trevor Martineau has since been fired from his position at the state-run facility and will face a litany of federal charges for the head-scratching endeavor.
Per the 9News report, a prisoner tipped off a Colorado Department of Corrections investigator on July 2nd before Martineau came into work. After probing from investigators, the embattled corrections officer allegedly confessed to possessing drugs in his lunchbox.
The investigator uncovered a large burrito in the Martineau’s lunchbox, and upon further inspection, saw a plastic baggie sticking out of the end of the “lunch.”
Police uncovered 91.4 grams of meth, 26.1 grams of heroin, 46 strips of suboxone, 13 individually-wrapped portions of cannabis wax,10 strips of “suspected Buprenorphine Naloxone,” and six thumb drives. The contents of the thumb drives have yet to be revealed.
It is believed, according to court documents, that Martineau was to be paid $1,000 for pick up and delivery of said drugs. It’s also not clear who instructed the guard to do so.
An Impactful Arrest
And while Colorado remains, arguably, the most progressive states when it comes to drug regulation—it legalized recreational marijuana back in 2012 and Denver recently became the first city to decriminalize “magic mushrooms”—it still faces an uphill battle against illicit drugs. After all, it’s safe to say the state won’t be legalizing methamphetamines or heroin anytime soon.
Considering the opioid epidemic plaguing our country, Martineau’s bust looks all the more impressive. At least, DOC Executive Director Dean Williams thinks so, as he lauded his team for the quick uncovering.
“I am very proud of the work our staff did to bring this case forward,” he said in a statement.
