Many criminals owe their stupidity in part to the influence of drugs. Frequently, a drug-related arrest is basically handed to the police by the actions of the criminal himself or herself.

Take for example 20-year-old Jasmin Klair. Police allege that she set up a cocaine deal involving nearly 24 pounds of the drug in 2011. Keeping to the smuggling theme, authorities say she had help from Bob Boule, the owner of the Smuggler’s Inn, where Klair had rented a room. Boule, who was unaware of the package’s contents and faces no charges, also drives an SUV with custom plates reading “SMUGLER.” Klair pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and is awaiting sentencing. Narminder Kaler and Gurjit Sandhu, the men who allegedly set up the deal with Klair, face similar charges.

Going to jail usually means getting cut off from many things criminals might enjoy on the outside, unless they’re willing to pay big and risk additional time. Criminals who know they’re about to serve time may partake in favorite foods, alcohol, or simply enjoy the company of the opposite sex before going in. In February 2012, the Athens, Georgia police officer who arrested Essie Mae Jones on aggravated assault charges claimed that she also had a last-minute request before being taken into custody. Authorities say Jones, age 48, asked to smoke her pipe one more time, since she wouldn’t be allowed to in jail. But not just any pipe – her crack pipe. Jones’s request was, of course, refused.

Marked police cruisers can be difficult to miss – unless you’re in need of a fix and pressed for time. Such was allegedly the case with 50 year old Michael Porcello of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, who police say was snorting heroin at a stoplight in broad daylight on Main Street. The car stopped next to Porcello just happened to be a marked police car. Martone is charged with possession of a class A substance.

Finally, there’s the case of Memphis, Tennessee resident Melvin Robinson. Police arrested Robinson, 32, while he attempted to buy what he thought was cocaine. His dumb mistake was a rather unusual one, however. Robinson was a Memphis police officer, and sought to make the buy of 22 pounds of cocaine while in his patrol car and dressed in his uniform. Robinson has been relieved of duty with pay pending the investigation, and charged with attempt to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.