Drug haul at prison checkpoint

An arrest was made and drugs used in the manufacture of methamphetamine ('speed') were found as a result of vehicle checkpoints held at Waikeria Prison during the weekend, the Department of Corrections said today.

Tony Coyle, national crime prevention co-ordinator, says Corrections Officers and a Corrections narcotics drug dog team searched vehicles and visitors.

"More than 700 pseudoephydrine-based tablets - a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine - were located in the vehicle of one visitor. Police are continuing their enquiries with this individual," says Mr Coyle.

Vehicle checkpoints are an important part of the Department's national drug reduction strategy. During the past year, some 5,000 vehicles were searched at New Zealand prisons, resulting in 80 arrests and numerous seizures of drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons. The checkpoints occur in cooperation with local Police.

"While in some cases there may be no intention to bring the contraband into the prison, visitors need to understand that bringing such items onto prison property is in breach of the law.

"They also need to realise that visitor checkpoints are not a temporary blitz - they're here to stay."

Other initiatives to reduce drugs and contraband include regular searching of cells, inmates and prison buildings, drug and alcohol treatment programmes and random drug testing of inmates.

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