Louisiana officials say a weekend contraband sweep at three prisons turned up a mix of drugs, weapons, and alcohol, all tied to visitor vehicles. More than 300 cars were searched at Elayn Hunt and the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, with seizures including marijuana, gummies, and Xanax.
At Elayn Hunt, a checkpoint also sent 26 visitors back for issues like weapon possession, marijuana odor, and alcohol, officials said. One Dixon visitor was arrested after a search allegedly turned up 12 grams of synthetic marijuana, a gun, ammunition, and a bottle of Cayman Jack.
What Officials Found During the Weekend Search
Public safety officials said the weekend operation focused on three facilities and the parking lots that serve visitation. They searched more than 300 vehicles at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, looking for contraband before it made it inside.
The items they reported seizing were a mix of drugs and alcohol, not just one thing. Officials listed marijuana, marijuana gummies, partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, and Xanax pills from the Elayn Hunt and LCIW searches, along with signs of marijuana odor and alcohol.
Enforcement showed up quickly in the numbers. Three Elayn Hunt visitors were issued misdemeanor arrest summons for marijuana possession, officials said. And at Dixon Correctional Institute, one visitor was arrested after a car search allegedly turned up 12 grams of synthetic marijuana plus a gun, ammunition, and Cayman Jack.
How the Checkpoints Worked and Why Visitors Were Turned Away
At Elayn Hunt, corrections officials said they set up a checkpoint to screen visitors before they reached the facility. The idea was simple, stop cars, look for obvious red flags, and keep anything illegal from getting closer to inmates.
They said the checkpoint led to 26 visitors being turned around over the weekend. The reasons listed were straightforward and practical, including weapon possession, the odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle, and alcohol found or suspected in cars.
Officials also described similar warning signs during searches at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. They said the smell of marijuana came up, along with alcohol and a weapon during what they called routine visitation-related checks. It was a reminder that screening starts outside.
Dixon Arrest Adds a Sharper Warning About Contraband
At Dixon Correctional Institute, officials said one visitor case stood out because it moved from a warning to an arrest. They identified the visitor as Reegan Marie Jillen Tripeaux, booked on an introduction of contraband charge after a car search.
The list of items they said were found was serious, not just a small stash. Officials reported 12 grams of synthetic marijuana, along with a marijuana grinder, a gun, ammunition, and a bottle of Cayman Jack in the vehicle.
Chief of Prison Operations Seth Smith tied the message to rules, not excuses. “We want to remind members of the public” that visitation comes with protocols, he said, adding that failure to follow them “will result in arrests and charges being filed.”
Endnote
This sweep will land in the usual debate about prison safety and visitor access. Supporters say checks protect staff and inmates. Critics worry the rules can feel heavy-handed. As mentioned, Seth Smith put the department’s view plainly, saying rule breaks “will result in arrests and charges.”
Next chapters are likely more operational than political. If officials see results, they may keep running similar weekends and tightening visitation screening. The numbers already give a snapshot, with more than 300 vehicles searched and 26 visitors turned around at Elayn Hunt.
The legal side will also keep moving, and that is where some pressure builds. Three visitors received misdemeanor arrest summons tied to marijuana possession. One Dixon visitor faces an introduction of contraband charge, a reminder that a single car can trigger serious consequences.
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