A search of two cells Tuesday at the Warren County Jail resulted in the seizure of small amounts of marijuana, methamphetamine, tobacco and a cell phone, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“We do routine cell searches in the jail as a part of our security program,” Pace said. “Contraband is a continuing ongoing problem that every correctional institution faces, but ours specifically, because our jail was built without a visitation facility.

“We are required by court order to allow visitation, but we’re having to do it without a visitation room, so we actually have to allow the public to come in the building to the cell block area and visit through the windows,” he said.

“Any time you allow the public into a secure facility, you’re asking for problems.”

That is why, Pace said, deputies continue to do cell searches, search the visitors, and use K-9 searches on a regular basis, “All to combat contraband in the facility, and yesterday was successful search.”

He said the inmates who were in the cell blocks are now on lockdown. If an investigation specifically proves which inmate introduced the illegal items, he said, they will be charged.