Grandma took her grandbaby — and cocaine stash — to prison visit, Florida cops say

A touching prison visitation moment turned into an outlandish drug bust, after guards realized a Florida woman and her infant grandchild were smuggling cocaine and heroin, according to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened Sunday, June 26, at the DeSoto Correctional Institution in Arcadia, and investigators say grandma had more drugs stashed in her car. The prison is about 90 miles southeast of Tampa.

The woman was arrested and the baby was taken by the Department of Children and Families for “care and safe placement,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Among the charges the woman faces are accusations of child abuse, officials said.

Detectives say the 44-year-old suspect was carrying “100 grams of cocaine and heroin” during her prison visit.

“Thankfully DCI officers conduct thorough searches of visitors and the contraband was located,” the sheriff’s office said.

“An additional 687.7 grams of heroin and cocaine were located in her vehicle … along with the baby’s car seat and essentials.”

Investigators did not report who the suspect intended to visit or whether the baby was used to help hide the drugs.

The suspect was taken to the DeSoto County Jail “where she was charged with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, child abuse/neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia,” the sheriff’s office said. “She is currently held without bond,” officials said.

In total, the woman was in possession of “almost 800 grams (two pounds) of heroin and cocaine,” the sheriff’s office said.

This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 7:06 AM with the headline "Grandma took her grandbaby — and cocaine stash — to prison visit, Florida cops say."