26 February
A team of staff at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in North Waikato avoided one of the oldest tricks in the book yesterday while searching a visitor to the site for contraband.
"The staff questioned the female visitor about whether she had any drugs on her and she confessed to having a joint, or marijuana cigarette," says Spring Hill Corrections Facility Manager Gavin Dalziel.
"She handed it over and was praised for her honesty. However our staff, who are very experienced, know when someone is attempting to fool them and kept searching.
"The officer carrying out the search was very thorough and a point bag containing methamphetamine was also found in her possession.”
Mr Dalziel says that without the presence of a drug dog, methamphetamine can be extremely difficult to find because point bags are very small and can be easily concealed.
The woman, who alluded she was bringing the drugs onto prison property for a prisoner, was detained while Police were notified.
"The sad fact about the whole episode is that it again highlights the pressure put onto visitors, especially women, to traffic drugs inside for prisoners,” says Mr Dalziel.
“We talk about the consequences for these people all the time, and there are plenty of signs warning visitors, yet people are still willing to risk it.
"We will not tolerate prisoners using drugs. Drug use increases the risk to the public, our staff and to prisoners themselves.
"Drugs are often the reason prisoners offended in the first place and by restricting access to drugs, we give them a chance to think with a clear mind about their behaviour and whether they want to change. It is for these reasons we work so hard to keep drugs out."
The woman was arrested and removed from the site by Police. She will now face criminal charges and a 12 month ban from visiting the prison.
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