Michael Hogan: Korora man pleads guilty to bringing opioid drug buprenorphine into Clarence Correctional Centre
A visitor was busted trying to smuggle drugs into a North Coast prison by using his mouth to pass the substance to an inmate.
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A North Coast man was busted trying to smuggle drugs into a Clarence Valley prison by using his mouth to pass the substance to an inmate.
Korora man Michael Hogan, 63, pleaded guilty in Grafton Local Court to possessing a prohibited drug – the opioid buprenorphine – and attempting to bring the drug into Clarence Correctional Centre near Grafton, which is run privately by Serco.
Hogan was visiting an inmate when he was spotted with the drug colloquially named “bupe” on August 30.
It’s often prescribed medically to treat opioid dependence, the court heard on Monday.
Court documents state Hogan was caught at the main visitor check-in.
Prison staff saw him use his mouth to pass the drugs to an inmate.
Hogan was taken to a secure room and Grafton police officers were called.
Officers arrived about 3:45pm and were shown a package which had been sealed in a “drug bag”, court documents state.
“(Hogan then) made full admissions to passing the package of drugs to an inmate, after the inmate had asked him to bring the drugs,” police state in court documents.
He also told officers the drugs were “bupe”.
Magistrate Rodney Brender adjourned the case for sentencing on December 13.
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