Usually, when we do rat stories, there’s a touch of whimsy.

There was the rat who was living his best life in the pastry display at Shoprite, the health-conscious rat who slammed a salad at Food Lover’s Market, and that adorable fat rat who was rescued from a manhole cover by some friendly firemen.

We named her ‘Fatatouille’.

This is not a whimsical tale of rat mischief, so if gross images offend you, be warned.

Criminals in the UK have been using dead rats to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other contraband into an English prison, reports Business Insider.

Police officers uncovered the plot at the Guys Marsh prison in Dorset when they found three dead rats with stitches along their stomachs.

When they opened up them up, they saw the rats had been disemboweled and stuffed with a large amount of drugs including spice, the synthetic drug causing an epidemic in UK jails, cannabis, and tobacco.

The officers also found five cell phones and chargers, three SIM cards, and cigarette papers.

The Ministry of Justice suspects that the exchange is being coordinated by gangs outside the prison.

Though prisoners are known to have used pigeons and tennis balls to smuggle in contraband, this is the first time the UK has recorded stuffed animals being used as a vessel.

The smuggling of contraband to prisons has been worsening in the United Kingdom. Ministry of Justice statistics show that drug finds in prisons increased by 23% in the year leading up to March 2018. The number of phones seized grew by 15%.

Guys Marsh prison is particularly bad when it comes to keeping contraband out. In 2016, pictures emerged showing inmates drinking, doing drugs, and eating takeout fish and chips.

The following year, a drunk inmate stripped naked and set the roof on fire.

Sounds like a party.

Stewart, the prisons minister, said: “Drugs and mobile phones behind bars put prisoners, prison officers and the public at risk,” said Stewart.

“By toughening security and searching, we can ensure prisons are places of rehabilitation that will prevent further re-offending and keep the public safe.”

Investigations are underway to find the culprits.

I can’t help but feel for the rats.

[source:businessinsider]