Heroin Hid in Cell Phone Was Meant for Hospital Patient, Cops Say

A Budd Lake man was charged with heroin possession after police said he handed a hospital security guard a cell phone with heroin hidden in the battery pack for a patient, according to police.

Adnan Smajlovic, 26, was released after being charged and is now awaiting a court appearance, Sgt. Darren Tynan said.

Police received a call from Hackettstown Regional Medial Center at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday about suspected heroin being brought into the facility, Tynan said. Smajlovic handed the phone to the security guard and asked him to give the phone to a person who was recently admitted, according to Tynan.

The security guard grew suspicious and checked the cell phone. Inside, Tynan said he found seven folds of suspected heroin.

Smajlovic left the hospital before officers arrived but was located by police at Quick Chek on Route 182.

For questions on the report, email ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com.