Two Twin Cities mothers were arrested after bringing along their children to an illicit drug deal outside a central Minnesota gas station on a weekday afternoon, according to authorities.

With the help of a confidential informant, the sting played out Thursday afternoon at a Holiday station in Little Falls, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and charges filed against the women.

Arrested in an SUV on suspicion of "selling a large quantity" of methamphetamine and prescription drugs were Jamie Sue Tapia Morrow, 30, of Brooklyn Park, and Sara S. Harrison, 28, of Minneapolis, law enforcement authorities said in a statement released Friday.

Concerned about being caught, Tapia Morrow told her 13-year-old daughter in the SUV "to put [the drugs] in her bra," Chief Sheriff's Deputy Jason Worlie said Monday.

There were five children in all in the SUV, which was pulled over by Little Falls police on southbound Hwy. 10 after it left the city, according to the charges. Tapia Morrow is the mother of four of them, and Harrison is the mother of the other child, Worlie said. All five were placed in protective custody.

Both women were charged with felony drug counts. Harrison remains jailed, while Tapia Morrow posted bond and was released. A telephone message was left with Harrison's attorney seeking a response to the charges. Tapia Morrow has yet to secure an attorney and could not be reached by telephone.

Jenni Pinkley, Star Tribune
Sara S. Harrison, 28, of Minneapolis

Collaborating in the arrests were the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and the Little Falls Police Department.