15 December
Whanganui Prison staff have stopped a package with a large amount of cannabis, yeast, and tattoo ink from entering the Prison after a visitor tried to drop it off at the site yesterday.
“Staff observed a vehicle driving towards the Prison’s main entrance and turn around before it came to the visitor’s car-park. The driver headed back down the Prison road, exited his vehicle and deposited a package behind a power box,” says Prison Manager Hati Kaiwai.
“Staff went to investigate the area and found a large package that contained 71 grams of cannabis leaf. The package also contained 2.5 kilograms of yeast and a bottle of tattoo ink.
“CCTV footage captured images of the vehicle and driver, which have been handed over to the Police, along with the package and its contents.
“The Prison is very rigorous with its security and we have a zero tolerance policy for drugs on prison grounds which we work in partnership with Police to enforce. Both Police and Corrections take drug finds on Prison grounds very seriously.
“Prisoners often put pressure on friends and family members to supply them with drugs in prison and Christmas time can increase the demand for illegal substances and contraband. Even the family of offenders, who are well aware that we conduct regular checks on prison visitors and their vehicles, try and bring drugs onto the premises.
“There are a number of measures in place to stop drugs and other contraband entering prisons. This includes visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, the use of drug detector dogs and monitoring during visits by staff and cameras.”
For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:
Phone: (04) 460 3365
Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz
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