One man has been busted for smuggling drugs into prison. But what makes this case unique isn't the intent of his actions - but specifically where he tried to hide the substance.   

22-year-old Jose V. Navarro was self-surrendering for confinement when he was caught with his pants down. "Around 12:30 yesterday afternoon Jose Navarro self-surrendered," said Department of Corrections spokesman Jeff Limo. "[He] finally checked into the hub for confinement. Upon strip-searching, the officer noticed contraband in his underpants."  Navarro was self-surrendering in a drug conviction, both Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances.

According to Limo, what was in his pants could result in additional time behind bars. "After inspecting the item, it was tobacco, better known as 'snuff'. He tried to smuggle it into the facility," said Limo.  As a result, Navarro was re-arrested and charged for promoting prison contraband.

According to court documents, the officer conducting the strip search observed padding about three inches in length in Navarro's boxer shorts. When asked what was in his pants, he told the officer, "It's extra padding." Limo says the amount was the size of a sandwich bag.

"Tobacco like cigarettes, snuff is an addiction. They know that this is a tobacco-free facility. So they'll make their tries and try to smuggle it in or perhaps have friends or family try to throw it over the fence. Or try through personnel to do it. Either way, we're going to get it and find the culprits behind it," promised Limo. "And they'll be prosecuted."

This wouldn't be the first of its kind at DepCor. Late last month inmate Kala Taitague was self-surrendering when she asked to go to the restroom. Taitague was caught allegedly trying to flush 27 orange and blue pills of unknown chemical composition down the toilet. Said Limo, "This is the second incident in the matter of three weeks. And the director is very concerned about those who are coming in for self-surrender now. We make it very stern. Those who think they can come and penetrate the first line of security known as the hub for processing, that we're going to get them. And they're going to be prosecuted."

We should note, Public Law 33-08 better known as the Contraband Reform Act of 2015, recently passed into law in April. The legislation outlines stricter consequences for those caught smuggling contraband into DepCor.

A first offense would result in imprisonment no less than 30 days or a $500 fine, or both. A second offense would result in no less than three years behind bars or a $5,000 fine, or both.