Leather-bound Bibles, drawings and legal mail: It’s all being used to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids such as K2 into Texas prisons.
TEXAS, USA — In April, a woman was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison after allegedly mailing Bibles soaked in synthetic cannabinoids into Texas prisons.
This wasn’t an isolated incident if you ask officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Synthetic cannabinoids such as K2 continue to present serious challenges in Texas prisons and in correctional facilities across the country, officials with the state agency said.
“These substances are unpredictable, highly dangerous, and often engineered to evade traditional detection methods,” a TDCJ spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The use of K2 has resulted in significant health emergencies, erratic and violent behavior, and a rise in medical interventions, the spokesperson said.
These substances are primarily smuggled into prisons, infused in paper sent through the mail. It can be dissolved into a liquid and sprayed onto letters, legal mail, drawings and books.
“We have also seen contraband smuggled in with visitors, drone drops and our own staff,” the TDCJ spokesperson said. “We are working closely with law‑enforcement partners to prosecute individuals responsible for distributing synthetic drugs inside our facilities.”
TDCJ has implemented several changes to address the contraband.
Since 2023, the agency has:
- made changes to the inmate mail policy
- expanded programming to help those battling addiction
- advanced detection technologies
- increased training for staff
- launched unit-level rallies to promote a drug-free environment, inspire sobriety and provide helpful resources
“While no single solution can eliminate the problem entirely, these combined efforts have already led to significant interdictions and continue to strengthen safety across the agency,” the spokesperson said. “TDCJ remains vigilant as we work to keep dangerous synthetic drugs out of Texas prisons.”