PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — An alleged drug trafficking ring centered within the Palm Beach County West Detention Center has unraveled, exposing a collaboration between jail staff and inmates that has led to a surge of synthetic cannabinoid overdoses and health crises among the incarcerated population.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said that between September 2025 and January 2026, deputies launched an extensive investigation into the trafficking of synthetic drugs, commonly referred to as “K2,” “Spice,” or “paper dope,” after there were more than 25 incidents involving inmates overdosing or experiencing medical issues as a result of taking drugs within a 4-month period.
According to court records, investigators determined that Bakari Warthen, a drug counselor employed at the jail, was allegedly the primary source for introducing these drugs into the facility…