Twelve prisons officers are among 21 people who have been arrested so far this year for attempting to smuggle in contraband items into the nation’s prisons.
The latest arrest came on Wednesday when a Prison Officer I with five years' service was arrested at the Golden Grove Remand Yard trying to smuggle in over 400 handmade cigarettes, three cellphones with sim cards and a quantity of marijuana. The arrest was made at about 3.30 pm by special officers assigned to the Operations Unit.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Commissioner of Prisons Gerard Wilson said the drive for tighter security at the prison faclities “is no joke.”
“Well, it would appear that officers and visitors might be taking the zero-tolerance approach to contraband as comical. The Operations Unit has stepped up its drive to apprehend these culprits and we are seeing the results,” Wilson said.
Wilson said three officers were arrested in April, two in March, one in August, four in September, one in October and one (so far) this month. He again warned officers who are intent on breaking the law that they will be caught and brought to justice.
Recently, Wilson placed a ban on visitors taking in fruits for inmates after two visitors were held taking marijuana into the Golden Grove facility in apples and grapefruits. Visitors must now purchase fruits for prisoners from the prison canteen.