Bowden Institution officers nabbed an inmate attempting to smuggle nearly $300,000 worth of contraband, including drugs, tobacco, knives and cellphones.
Correctional officers at the medium-security prison linked the smuggling attempt to an inmate Dec. 7. He was attempting to sneak in $282,600 worth of cellphones, cellphone chargers, knives, tobacco, crystal meth and a concentrated cannabis extract known as shatter.
RCMP were called and are investigating, said acting assistant warden of interventions Blair MacGregor Wednesday.
Prison officials routinely catch inmates trying to smuggle in contraband.
Drugs and other contraband worth $604,000 were seized at the prison in June. In March, drugs and two cellphones with an estimated value of $384,000 were seized.
In the latest seizure, the contraband was found inside the prison but not in an area where the cells are located.
“It was (in a location) where staff were able to detect it. It wasn’t able to get into the inmate population.
“There are different ways that drugs make their way in,” he said. “They make it in through visitors. They make it in by people throwing stuff over (the perimeter fence).
“They’re very innovative when it comes to ways of getting drugs into an institution.”
The Correctional Service of Canada uses a number of tools, including ion scanners, which can detect illegal drugs down to parts per billion, to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. All visitors and staff are scanned.
Drug detector dogs are also used to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors.
“CSC is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone,” said MacGregor.
The service has set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions to get additional information about activities connected to security.
“These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates and staff members working at CSC institutions.”