Grand Junction, Colorado – A routine body scan at the Mesa County Detention Facility turned into a life-threatening emergency when deputies discovered a 23-year-old inmate had smuggled a deadly amount of fentanyl hidden inside her body, days after she was booked into jail.
Kamber Lawrence, booked on January 25, 2024, on unrelated charges, managed to conceal the drugs past initial intake searches. It was only several days later, during a standard scan, that staff spotted something suspicious.
When confronted, Lawrence allegedly reached into her body and pulled out a plastic bag. The bag ripped open immediately, spilling powdered fentanyl across the room and exposing both her and several deputies to the powerful opioid.
Sheriff’s officials say the amount was enough to kill dozens of people.
How the Drugs Stayed Hidden for Days
Mesa County uses advanced body scanners capable of detecting items hidden in body cavities, but Lawrence somehow avoided detection during her initial booking process.
Sources close to the facility tell us the drugs were wrapped in plastic and pushed deep into a body orifice, a common but extremely dangerous smuggling method known as “body packing” or “keistering.”
The fentanyl stayed concealed for several days until Lawrence was selected for a random follow-up scan, a procedure that has become more frequent as drug smuggling attempts have spiked in Colorado jails.
When the scanner showed an unusual mass, deputies moved her to a secure area and asked her to remove it voluntarily. Instead of complying slowly, Lawrence allegedly yanked the package out forcefully, causing it to burst on the spot.
A Lethal Amount That Could Have Killed Staff and Inmates
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the torn bag contained approximately 10 grams of pure fentanyl, an amount officials described as “absolutely lethal.”
For context, just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, about the weight of a few grains of salt, is considered a deadly dose for most adults.
Ten grams equals roughly 5,000 lethal doses.
Had the powder become airborne or been absorbed through the skin in larger quantities, deputies say the outcome could have been catastrophic for everyone in the room.
Fortunately, quick action by trained staff prevented any overdoses. Everyone exposed was immediately decontaminated, monitored, and given medical clearance. No one required Narcan.
New Felony Charges Added
Lawrence now faces four additional felony charges on top of her original case:
- Introduction of contraband in the second degree
- Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl 4-50 grams)
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Reckless endangerment
Court records show she remains in custody at the Mesa County Detention Facility with bond set at $50,000 for the new charges alone.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for later this month.
Why This Keeps Happening in Colorado Jails
Drug smuggling into detention facilities has reached crisis levels across the state.
The Colorado Department of Corrections reported a 300% increase in fentanyl seizures inside prisons and jails between 2020 and 2023.
Many inmates arrive already addicted and desperate, willing to take extreme risks to bring drugs inside where street prices can be 10 times higher.
Body cavity concealment remains one of the hardest methods to detect consistently, even with modern scanners, because some inmates use multiple layers of plastic, latex, or even wax to mask the density.
Jail staff nationwide have reported near-death incidents from accidental fentanyl exposure during searches, leading several agencies to issue hazard-pay bonuses for employees who handle high-risk inmates.
The Mesa County incident is at least the third time in Colorado in the past 18 months that fentanyl hidden in a body cavity has been discovered after initial booking.
The opioid crisis continues to claim lives at record rates in the state. Colorado saw more than 1,900 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in nearly 80% of them.
Moments like this inside the jail walls show how the crisis reaches even behind bars, putting inmates, staff, and entire communities at risk.
One deputy who was in the room that day told reporters off the record, “We train for this, but you never really feel ready when it actually happens. That powder could have killed my whole team.”
Thankfully, training and quick response saved lives this time.
But the close call serves as another grim reminder of how deeply fentanyl has infiltrated every corner of society, even places designed to keep danger out.
What do you think should be done to stop drugs from getting into jails? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’re sharing this story, use #MesaCountyFentanyl on X or Instagram.
