Rachel Marie ThomasRANKIN COUNTY — A Jackson woman was arrested early Sunday after Rankin County deputies allegedly discovered an estimated $400,000 worth of drugs and contraband in her vehicle as she traveled toward the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
According to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were conducting a roadside safety checkpoint on Highway 468 near the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday when they stopped a dark-colored passenger car.
Deputies identified the driver as Rachel Marie Thomas of Jackson.
While speaking with Thomas, deputies developed probable cause to believe narcotics were inside the vehicle and conducted a search, authorities said.
Investigators reported finding multiple pounds of marijuana, multiple doses of THC wax, methamphetamine, suspected liquid fentanyl, multiple dosage units of oxycodone, two large bottles of promethazine, multiple cell phones, drug paraphernalia and alcohol concealed inside water bottles.
According to investigators, Thomas was traveling to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and intended to introduce the items into the prison system.
Authorities estimated the street value of the seized drugs and contraband at approximately $400,000.
Thomas was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Following her arrest, she was transported to the Rankin County Adult Detention Center, where she is being held on a $1.1 million bond.
The case remains under investigation.
