Police: 2 Children Used as Drug Mules in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – Police in Philadelphia say a woman stuffed the backpacks of her son and stepson with marijuana and sent them out of their home after officers seized 13 pounds of the drug from her husband's car in a traffic stop.

Investigators say the traffic stop early Tuesday resulted in the arrest of Rodney Saunders. A few hours later police say his wife, Senya, packed seven pounds of marijuana into the backpacks of her 10-year-old son and 9-year-old stepson in an effort to get it out of her Southwest Philadelphia home.

Inspector Scott Small says the parents used the children as "drug mules."

Rodney and Senya Saunders are being held on $150,000 bail on drug and other charges. Three others were also charged.

The children are in custody of child welfare workers.