Several investigations opened into illegal drug trafficking at Stillwater prison

After more than a dozen staff members at the Stillwater Correctional Facility fell ill after inhaling the smoke of an illegal synthetic drug, the Minnesota Department of Corrections placed the prison on a marijuana search synthetic called K-2.

DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that investigators discovered a significant amount of paper they believed to be laced with synthetic drugs, and that several investigations are currently underway outside the prison for determine who is responsible for smuggling drugs into the prison.

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“This lockdown has been generalized throughout the facility, so that we can deploy the necessary staff,” Schnell said. “And we have active cases that we’re looking at, people on the outside who we believe were involved in all of this. Investigations are underway on this subject.

Schnell said that so far this year, across all Minnesota prisons, there have been three suspected drug overdose deaths and 75 non-fatal overdoses.

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“You solve that problem, and then they find another mechanism, or way, to try to get contraband into the facility,” Schnell said.

So far, Schnell said no inmates have been charged with illegal possession of K-2s.