Rikers Island jail search uncovers large cache of contraband drugs, weapons

A search in a Rikers Island jail uncovered a large cache of narcotics, including cocaine, K2 and marijuana in vacuum sealed bags, dozens of fentanyl-soaked papers, cigarettes, tobacco and ceramic blades, the Daily News has learned.

The major seizure Tuesday at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, shown in a video obtained by The News, has triggered an internal probe, DOC officials said.

It comes at a time when the Correction Department has installed body scanners for staff in three jails after overcoming longstanding union resistance, according to picture provided by the agency to The News. The four remaining jails will also receive the scanners.

“There is an open investigation regarding contraband seized at that facility and there is nothing more we can share at this time,” DOC spokeswoman Latima Johnson said.

The video obtained by The News from sources shows drugs hidden in more than two dozen fingers from plastic gloves, roughly 10 vacuum packed bags of marijuana, and a black garbage bag containing more vacuum packed baggies of drugs.

Sources familiar with the discovery said it included cocaine, the synthetic marijuana K2 in baggies and glove fingers, roughly 100 Newport cigarettes, loose tobacco, packs of rolling papers, a lighter and another type of synthetic marijuana called K3.

There were also dozens of fentanyl soaked sheets of paper, which are torn into small pieces and resold in the jails, the sources said. The bits of paper are then smoked.

Ceramic knife blades that can be used as weapons and evade metal detectors were also recovered, the sources said.

The find suggests drug contraband and weapons remains a stubborn problem, while the scale of the find could suggest staff involvement.

“This stash of contraband is clearly not meant for personal use, it’s better stocked than a trap house. One has to wonder how it’s possible such a large amount of contraband passed through Rikers security checks,” said Sarena Townsend, a lawyer and former deputy commissioner for trials and investigations for DOC.

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