BERNALILLO: Nicholas Perea has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance, bringing contraband into a jail and conspiracy.
Investigators with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said they believe Perea had a deal with Steven Mertz, an inmate within the jail, to periodically bring in the drug suboxone.
Suboxone is used to help prevent narcotic use, but is often abused.
Court documents indicated detectives caught Perea in the act. Authorities said he admitted to bringing in 63 strips of the drug on at least four different occasions when they interviewed him.
Perea also said he was paid for his services.
Suboxone strips were found on Mertz at the jail when he was arrested and charged, according to the court documents.
The company that employs Perea could not be reached for comment Friday night.
Sgt. Aaron Williamson said that the Sheriff’s Office is now trying to locate a woman who supplied Perea with the drugs.
Williamson said detectives are working with MDC officials to weed out anymore avenues someone might take to smuggle in drugs at the jail.
“This opens up the opportunity for us to try and find any more channels people might be taking advantage of,” Williamson said. “If they can pull this off, then we have to be diligent.”
