***PRESS RELEASE*****

Operation WIRE nets 6 during Prison Investigation by Police

A joint Police and Department of Corrections investigation concluded today with the execution of search warrants at Rimutaka Prison in Wellington and a number of addresses in Wellington City and the Hutt Valley.

In April Police received information from Corrections that indicated there were a number of persons involved in supplying cannabis to inmates within the Rimutaka Prison environment.

Detective Senior Sergeant Thomson states 'Due to the timeliness and quality of the information provided by Corrections we were able to investigate a number of persons who were allegedly in the early stages of setting up a Cannabis Growing and Supply operation.'

'For the past month we have been working closely with Corrections which has enabled Police to be very effective in disrupting this syndicate.'

As a result of Operation Wire 6 People will be charged with more than 20 offences relating to Cannabis Supply, Cultivation and Conspiracy.

Of the 6 arrests, 4 are male and 2 are female. 3 are prisoners at Rimutaka Prison and 1 is a male member of the Department of Corrections who faces Cannabis Cultivation and Supply charges.

All those arrested will appear in the Wellington District Court over the next week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Thomson states 'this is an excellent example of inter agency cooperation that has enabled Police to move quickly and effectively. We believe the supply of Cannabis was intended for Rimutaka Inmates and the wider drug community'.

ENDS

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