Two men are behind bars following a drug smuggling attempt at the Kinross Correctional Facility in Chippewa County, Michigan. The men—Andre Taylor, 59, of Clinton Township, and Edward King, 57, of Detroit—were arrested after a coordinated investigation led by the Michigan State Police (MSP) and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC).
The investigation began in December when MDOC tipped off authorities about a potential smuggling plot involving a corrections officer. Detectives from MSP’s Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) East, along with MSP troopers from Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace, initiated the investigation, which included traffic stops on the suspects’ vehicles.
Taylor, who was employed as a corrections officer on a temporary assignment at the Kinross facility, allegedly coordinated the smuggling with King. After executing search warrants, officers seized a significant amount of illegal contraband, including drugs and cash. The seized items are valued at approximately $443,000.
Among the confiscated drugs were:
15 full sheets of suspected K2 paper
50 A12 suboxone strips
514 N8 suboxone strips
74 grams of marijuana wax
62 grams of methamphetamine
Authorities also found $4,592 in cash on Taylor, believed to be payment for his involvement in the illegal operation.
This bust highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat drug smuggling and corruption within correctional facilities. Taylor and King now face serious charges for their roles in the scheme.