Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) has blocked a large amount of prohibited items at prisons across the state in the past month, seizing significant amounts of contraband during searches.
Intelligence-led and random searches in recent weeks have uncovered prohibited items at centres around the state including Townsville, Capricornia and Woodford and Borallon correctional centres.
Some of the items located in these searches included dangerous drugs, lighters, USB sticks, mobile phones and chargers, a tattoo gun as well as drug and smoking paraphernalia.
The safety of our prisons is our absolute priority, and our officers work hard to prevent contraband entering our centres.,
The introduction of contraband makes prisons less safe for our officers, prisoners and visitors.
Deputy Commissioner, Custodial Operations Andy Beck said a number of recent attempts to introduce prohibited items have certainly shown ingenuity, but officers have identified and prevented it from entering the centre through various safety controls and measures.
'Our intelligence officers are extremely effective in identifying the many different methods of concealment that are being used to try and introduce dangerous and prohibited items into our centres," Deputy Commissioner Beck said.
'Our officers conduct intelligence-led searches as well routine and random searches of accommodation blocks, prisoners, property and cells. We also conduct urine testing as part of our drug strategy to keep our centres contraband free.
'Passive Alert Detection Dogs (PADD) are also used in our centres to identify a number of different types of dangerous and prescription drugs as well as search visitors and monitor all mail coming into the centre.
We have a zero tolerance approach to the introduction of prohibited items and dangerous drugs and prohibited items into our centres."
The consequences of introducing prohibited items into correctional centres in Queensland have repercussions for both prisoners and people attempting to introduce prohibited items.
Taking or attempting to take a prohibited item into a corrective services facility is a criminal offence with a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment.
In addition, introducing dangerous drugs into correctional centres is classified as "aggravated supply" under the Drugs Misuse Act 1986, with a penalty of up to 25 years' imprisonment.
Prisoners identified as having involvement in the introduction of contraband are disciplined and may have their contact visits revoked. This may also have an impact on Parole applications.
RECENT SEIZURES:
Townsville Correctional Centre: Two mobile phones and charges, two USB sicks, a tattoo gun, three cigarette lighters quantity of drugs
https://corrections.qld.gov.au/contraband-seized-during-targeted-search/
Borallon Training and Correctional Centre: Quantity of drugs and a number of people charged with driving whilst under the influence of drugs
https://corrections.qld.gov.au/borallon-prison-carpark-operation-nets-drugs-and-weapons/
Woodford Correctional Centre: Quantity of drugs and tobacco
Capricornia Correctional Centre: Mobile phones and chargers, quantity of drugs, drug paraphernalia.
Wolston Correctional Centre: A number of people charged with driving whilst under the influence of drugs and cash seized.
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