SMUGGLER CAUGHT WITH BALLOONS IN BRA: SPENCE
Published Thursday, 11 October, 2007 at 01:06 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence has commended intelligence officers at Woodford Correctional Centre for catching a woman allegedly attempting to smuggle white powder into the centre.
Ms Spence said a 25 year old Acacia Ridge woman has been charged with attempting to smuggle 11 balloons of an unknown substance into the centre yesterday.
“The woman was intercepted by Corrective Services Investigations Unit and Woodford Correctional Centre Intelligence staff as part of a targeted operation at 1.30pm yesterday,” Ms Spence said.
“When the visitor was being searched she removed from her bra, eleven small water balloons containing what appeared to be crushed tablets and handed them to Detectives.
“The substance has now been handed over to police for testing at the John Tonge Centre.
Ms Spence said it is believed the powder may be Subutex, which could be worth up to $22,000 in prison value.
“This excellent work by our intelligence officers shows the system of detecting drugs in our prisons is working,” Ms Spence said.
“We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drugs in our correctional facilities, backed up by sophisticated measure to proactively target people who attempt to introduce contraband into our centres.
“We have intelligence officers, electronic drug detection instruments and one of the largest drug detection dog squads in Australia.
“The message is simple – if you attempt to smuggle drugs or other contraband into our prisons, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted and you may end up doing jail time yourself.”
“Last year, CSIU detectives charged 360 people with 459 offences and the majority of these related to the possession of contraband material by prisoners or visitors. This is on top of the 11 intelligence driven tactical operations targeting visitors across the state.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287
NB – Photos of the balloon are available to media – please contact number above.
Ms Spence said a 25 year old Acacia Ridge woman has been charged with attempting to smuggle 11 balloons of an unknown substance into the centre yesterday.
“The woman was intercepted by Corrective Services Investigations Unit and Woodford Correctional Centre Intelligence staff as part of a targeted operation at 1.30pm yesterday,” Ms Spence said.
“When the visitor was being searched she removed from her bra, eleven small water balloons containing what appeared to be crushed tablets and handed them to Detectives.
“The substance has now been handed over to police for testing at the John Tonge Centre.
Ms Spence said it is believed the powder may be Subutex, which could be worth up to $22,000 in prison value.
“This excellent work by our intelligence officers shows the system of detecting drugs in our prisons is working,” Ms Spence said.
“We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drugs in our correctional facilities, backed up by sophisticated measure to proactively target people who attempt to introduce contraband into our centres.
“We have intelligence officers, electronic drug detection instruments and one of the largest drug detection dog squads in Australia.
“The message is simple – if you attempt to smuggle drugs or other contraband into our prisons, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted and you may end up doing jail time yourself.”
“Last year, CSIU detectives charged 360 people with 459 offences and the majority of these related to the possession of contraband material by prisoners or visitors. This is on top of the 11 intelligence driven tactical operations targeting visitors across the state.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287
NB – Photos of the balloon are available to media – please contact number above.