Waikeria prison staff pounce on contraband

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Synthetic cannabis was included in contraband thrown into Waikeria Prison.

Synthetic cannabis was found after an attempt to smuggle contraband into Waikeria Prison.

Prison staff managed to stop the attempted smuggling of two packages, which also included tobacco, mobile phones and chargers.

The contraband was packaged up and thrown into a garden area of Waikeria Prison.

The contraband was packaged up and thrown into a garden area, but staff found the packages before they could be collected by prisoners who work in that part of the unit.

'Contraband is dangerous in a prison environment. We work hard to prevent it being introduced to our prisons, and to identify those responsible,' Dave Alty, deputy prison director said.

'There will always be some prisoners who attempt to push boundaries and try to smuggle contraband items into prison using a wide range of methods.'

Contraband in prisons includes tobacco, alcohol, communication devices, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tattoo equipment, and weapons. It also includes some everyday and seemingly innocent items that while not illegal, may be used inappropriately by prisoners.

Cellphones are unauthorised as they can be used to organise the introduction of contraband, facilitate criminal activities in the community, and harass victims.

'The security of our facilities and safety of those accommodated and working within is paramount. Corrections staff put a significant amount of effort into stopping contraband from being introduced into our prisons.

'Our intelligence staff are constantly working to identify and mitigate risk areas in the physical environment and to stay informed about new methods of concealment.'