Officers find suspected drugs on inmates at Fairbanks Correctional Center

Correctional officers found suspected drugs on inmates at Fairbanks Correctional Center on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said. Troopers are investigating the case as promoting contraband in the first degree, a felony charge that applies when the contraband brought into or held in a jail is a drug, a weapon or something meant to help an escape.

Officers found the items during a search, and troopers responded to the jail at 3:59 pm, according to the trooper dispatch. Inmates were carrying a white powdery substance, a white crystalline substance, Suboxone and marijuana concentrates. Troopers did not identify the powder or the crystals. The contraband was seized.

The investigation is ongoing. The dispatch reports no arrest or charge and does not say how many inmates were involved. Any charges would be accusations, and the people involved are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Promoting contraband in the first degree is a class C felony that carries up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine, according to Department of Corrections visitation guidance. Corrections visitation policies direct that attempts to bring contraband into a facility be reported to the Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers have investigated drugs at the Fairbanks jail several times this year. On May 27, an inmate brought in by Pretrial Services was found with methamphetamine, and charges went to the District Attorney's Office, according to a trooper dispatch. On Aug. 18, a suspected substance found at the jail was sent to the crime lab for testing. On Sept. 9, officers found drugs on an inmate during booking. Troopers sent that item for testing and forwarded charges to the District Attorney's Office.