Eight inmates at the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm at Columbia have been arrested following a joint investigation by the N.C. Department of Public Safety officials and the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office into contraband being brought into prison, Sheriff Darryl Liverman reported June 21.

As a result of the investigation—dubbed “Operation Suitcase” by the sheriff’s office, the eight inmates have been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance on jail-prison premises. Each subject was placed under a $3,000 secured bond.

K-2/Spice is dried plant material and chopped up herbs in a mixture of colors and synthetic chemicals (cannabinoids). These are 100 times stronger than THC that is found in marijuana, the sheriff said.

Side effects of K-2/Spice include high blood pressure, blurred vision, heart attack, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations and severe anxiety and paranoia.

In the last several months, EMS has responded to Tyrrell Prison Work Farm for possible drug overdoses by inmates which officials believe were a result of the use of K-2.

The investigation is ongoing.