Meth, cash found in carpark contraband search

Great work by a Corrections’ detector dog team who saw two visitors to Auckland South Corrections Facility arrested on Saturday after they were found with methamphetamine and a large amount of cash in their vehicle.

The items were found during a routine prison check point operation, where Corrections detector dog teams work together with Serco staff to carry out searches of arriving visitors before they enter the prison.

A total of 19 grams of methamphetamine and over $11,000 cash were found in the car along with a butane burner, scales, several shot gun shells and alcohol. Police were advised and removed the visitors from the site.

“This is a great example of Corrections, Serco and Police working together to stop the distribution of drugs in the community and in prisons. Meth wrecks people’s lives, and is often linked to a person’s criminal offending,” says Chief Custodial Officer Neil Beales.

“In a prison environment, prisoners who are affected by drugs can behave violently, and compromise the safety of staff and other prisoners.”

Corrections staff work hard to manage the introduction of contraband into prisons and a range of screening methods are used to prevent drugs, weapons, cellphones, tobacco and other prohibited items getting in. They include 25 detector dog teams operating across the country, x-ray technology, telephone monitoring of prisoners’ calls and single points of entry to sites.

“We regularly monitor and update screening procedures to prevent contraband from entering prisons, and stay informed about new methods of concealment,” says Neil.

“We also know that prisoners’ families, friends and associates can feel pressured to bring contraband into prison. However, this serves as a reminder that there can be significant consequences for those who do.”

Anyone who has been asked to bring drugs into a prison should report it to anonymous crime reporting line Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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