By C1 Staff
WELLINGTON, Wales — New intelligence gathering methods in New South Wales jails seek to create tougher penalties for visitors attempting to smuggle in contraband.
They use the intelligence to conduct targeted visitor search operations across the state, according to the Wellington Times.
“We are stepping up teh fight against prison contraband,” Wellington Correctional Center and Corrective Services commissioner Peter Severin said. “Our 2013 visitor search numbers of almost 100,000 represent an increase of almost 40 percent from the previous year.”
In 2013, SOG officers seized a total of 213 grams of powder, 323 grams of cannabis and 1063 tablets before the drugs could enter the prison system.
“Sadly, many of these visitors intercepted with drugs are women, including young women and mothers, who are visiting inmates on the inside,” Severin said.
“I cannot warn these women strongly enough — the price they will pay is far too high.”
Visitors caught bringing drugs to prisons face penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment for trafficking drugs into a correctional center. They could also face additional drug-related criminal charges.