Drug arrests follow prison visitor searches

Two arrests were made and a variety of drugs were found as a result of visitor checkpoints held on Sunday at Tongariro-Rangipo Prison, near Turangi, the Department of Corrections said today.

Corrections Officers and a Corrections narcotics drug dog team searched vehicles and visitors. Drugs seized included cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy, plus a variety of drug paraphernalia.

Tony Coyle, National Crime Prevention Coordinator, said the results were particularly impressive, given the low numbers visiting the prison that day.

"Prison visitors need to understand that visitor checkpoints will continue to operate at all prisons, even at relatively remote ones such as Tongariro-Rangipo."

Visitor 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.

"This find, along with many others this year, is an indication that the Department's drug reduction strategy is paying dividends," says Mr Coyle.

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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