7 October
A plan to smuggle drugs into Manawatu Prison was foiled last week by Corrections staff who found cannabis oil smeared between the pages of two magazines that were couriered to a prisoner. Although the couriered package did not have a sender name or address sharp eyed staff were quick to recognise that the handwriting on the package matched that of a recent visitor. All visitors are required to sign in on arrival. The package sender is likely to be banned from future visits for up to 12 months.
All property posted or couriered into the Prison is routinely searched and in this case the vigilance of the property reception staff can be praised for finding the drugs hidden between the pages of the magazines. The find was handed over to corrections officers who confirmed the substance to be cannabis.
“This incident demonstrates that people will, and do try various and sometimes inventive methods of getting drugs into our prisons but the lesson is they will be caught. We know the demand for drugs in prison is high and that prisoners can and do put pressure on people to smuggle contraband in for them any way they can,” says Assistant Regional Manager Christine O’Brien-Smith.
“We have a number of initiatives in place to prevent drugs and other contraband entering the prison including visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, and the use of drug detector dogs which means the chance you will get caught means it just isn’t worth it. Our staff can be praised in this instance for always being on the look out for contraband entering the prison and working together to keep it out.”
People who are caught attempting to introduce illegal items are also likely to be banned from future visits to the prison for up to twelve months.
“Nationally, random prisoner positive drug tests are sitting at an all time low and today’s find is one of the ways we are achieving this. Drug use in our prisons will not be tolerated.”
Notes to Editors
Nationally positive random drug tests are sitting at 10.5 percent and is the lowest since drug tests began in 1998. Please click here for more information.
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