The Democratic governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, has found herself in a big mess after one of her staffers was caught trafficking cocaine - a lot of it.

The police say eight kilograms of cocaine were sent to Healey's office in Springfield, where LaMar Cook, 45, was the deputy director. So far, the cops have seized 21 kilograms of cocaine, and the probe is ongoing.

Cook was charged with trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said.

Drug bust

Police say eight kilograms of coke were intercepted at Healey's Springfield office during a "controlled delivery operation."

On Monday night, police raided Cook's former office in Springfield, and he was arrested the following day during a traffic stop.

He was arraigned in Springfield on Wednesday, pleading not guilty. His bail was set at $25,000.

The investigation began when police seized two suspicious packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, where Cook was formerly employed. The parcels had 13 kilograms of cocaine inside.

“Evidence collected during that operation was consistent with the narcotics recovered during the most recent controlled delivery in Springfield," Gulluni said.

Governor scrambling

The governor issued a statement on the scandal, saying she has fired Cook.

"The governor’s office has been made aware of the arrest of an employee, Lamar Cook. The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust," a spokesperson said.

"Mr. Cook has been terminated from his position effective immediately. This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work,” Healey’s spokesperson added.

Total chaos

This isn't the first time that Healey has come under fire for poor vetting.

During the Biden border crisis, Healey oversaw a costly program to shelter unvetted migrants in hotels at taxpayer expense. A Haitian man who raped a disabled 15-year-old girl at one of the shelters was recently sentenced to 10-12 years in prison.

The Boston Herald reported this week that a convicted sex offender was working for the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Healey is up for re-election in 2026. Two Republicans challenging her for the job say that under her leadership, total chaos reigns.

"These shocking incidents reveal a total collapse of standards, screening, and supervision across state government," Republican Brian Shortsleeve said. "Under Maura Healey, taxpayers are paying the salaries of drug dealers and child predators. It’s disgraceful and dangerous, and it tells us everything we need to know about how she runs her administration."