Woman charged after $96,000 in drugs seized in attempted smuggling at Virginia correctional center

TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A woman was charged after attempting to smuggle more than $96,000 in drugs into a correctional center in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) said the incident took place on Saturday, Jan. 3, during visitation hours at Pocahontas State Correctional Center.

Paula Saunders Daniel, of Halifax, has been charged with the following:

• One count of manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited
• One count of delivery of drugs to prisoners or committed persons in the Tazewell County General District Court

According to a Jan. 12 release, VADOC Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES) special agents received intelligence that Daniel may be attempting to smuggle drugs to an inmate at the correctional center.

After Daniel arrived at the facility, VADOC said a detection K-9 informed law enforcement about Daniel, who gave up a package to special agents. She voluntarily told authorities that the package contained Buprenorphine strips.

VADOC said Daniel gave consent for officials to search the vehicle she drove to the facility following her arrest. They later found more Buprenorphine and a small amount of suspected cocaine, per a release.

“Pocahontas State Correctional Center and our facilities as a whole are safer today thanks to the great investigative work from our Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES) team members who work hand-in-hand with our staff inside our facilities around the clock to keep Virginia’s correctional centers safe and secure,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson in a release. “I thank them for their great work, and hope this serves as a reminder that drugs and illegal contraband have absolutely no place inside our facilities.”

OLES special agents continue to investigate.

No further details are available as of the time of reporting.