Michigan Officer Charged in $443K Drug Smuggling Attempt in the U.P.

LANSING: So, here’s the scoop. A corrections officer named Andre Taylor, 59, got himself into some serious trouble. He was caught trying to smuggle a whole bunch of illegal drugs into a prison in the Upper Peninsula.

The Michigan State Police say he was working temporarily at Kinross Correctional Facility when he tried to bring in K2, Suboxone, marijuana wax, meth, and more. The drugs were worth a whopping $443,000 inside the prison.

They found the stash during a traffic stop after a joint investigation kicked off last December. They also seized nearly $4,600 in cash from Taylor, which they think was payment for his shady dealings.

Taylor isn’t alone in this mess; he’s been charged alongside Edward King, 57, from Detroit. Both have been arraigned and posted bond, with their next court date set for February 27.

The whole thing started when the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team got a tip about a possible smuggling attempt involving a corrections officer. It’s a big issue, as past investigations have shown that prison staff are often linked to drug smuggling, contributing to rising overdose cases.

As for Taylor, the Michigan Department of Corrections hasn’t confirmed where he usually worked but mentioned he’s under investigation and no longer employed there.