MACKINAC CO. -- The 17-year veteran of the Michigan Department of Corrections had a large amount of heroin and tobacco in his possession that he may have been planning to smuggle into the Newberry Correctional Facility, according to investigators.

The drugs were found during a traffic stop in Mackinac County Wednesday.  The officer is now facing three felony drug possession charges.

The Michigan State Police and Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (SANE) believe the officer was planning to smuggle the drugs into the Newberry prison where he worked. 

The suspect is being held in the Mackinac County Jail and was immediately suspended without pay from his job with the MDOC.