Visitors to prisons warned: Don’t try to smuggle in drugs
Published Sunday, 23 November, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Minister for Police and Corrective Services Judy Spence has warned visitors of the consequences of trying to smuggle drugs into prisons.
The warning follows an incident at the Woodford Correctional Centre on November 11 which has resulted in a male prisoner and his female visitor being charged with supplying a dangerous drug into a correctional centre.
The 32-year-old prisoner and his 33-year-old visitor from Wavell Heights are both due to appear in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on December 17.
In a separate incident, a 45-year-old Rothwell woman was charged last Saturday with attempting to supply drugs into a correctional centre after allegedly being found with cannabis hidden in her bra.
The woman was detained by police during a visits session at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. She was scheduled to visit a 26-year-old male prisoner.
Police located a small balloon containing about two grams of cannabis packaged with pepper in an alleged attempt to disguise the drug from drug detection dogs.
A subsequent search of the woman’s home at Rothwell led to a further charge. She is scheduled to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on January 7 for one count of supplying a dangerous drug within a correctional centre and possession of a utensil.
Ms Spence said visitors should clearly understand that attempting to smuggle drugs into correctional centres was a serious offence.
"It's just not worth attempting to smuggle drugs into prison at visits,” she said.
“Highly sensitive electronic testing and drug dogs, combined with intelligence operations, mean there is a high chance of being discovered.
“The chances are you will be caught and prosecuted and you could face jail time."
Ms Spence said experience showed it was typically women who attempted to bring drugs into correctional centres.
"They face enormous pressure from imprisoned husbands, de factos, boyfriends, brothers, sons or other relatives to supply drugs,” she said.
"Women with no criminal convictions of their own can soon find themselves facing charges and the possibility of jail.”
In the 2007-08 financial year, 13 visitors were charged with 23 offences related to the attempted introduction of drugs into correctional centres.
All but one of those visitors were women, most aged under 30.
Media contact: 3239 6218
The warning follows an incident at the Woodford Correctional Centre on November 11 which has resulted in a male prisoner and his female visitor being charged with supplying a dangerous drug into a correctional centre.
The 32-year-old prisoner and his 33-year-old visitor from Wavell Heights are both due to appear in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on December 17.
In a separate incident, a 45-year-old Rothwell woman was charged last Saturday with attempting to supply drugs into a correctional centre after allegedly being found with cannabis hidden in her bra.
The woman was detained by police during a visits session at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. She was scheduled to visit a 26-year-old male prisoner.
Police located a small balloon containing about two grams of cannabis packaged with pepper in an alleged attempt to disguise the drug from drug detection dogs.
A subsequent search of the woman’s home at Rothwell led to a further charge. She is scheduled to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on January 7 for one count of supplying a dangerous drug within a correctional centre and possession of a utensil.
Ms Spence said visitors should clearly understand that attempting to smuggle drugs into correctional centres was a serious offence.
"It's just not worth attempting to smuggle drugs into prison at visits,” she said.
“Highly sensitive electronic testing and drug dogs, combined with intelligence operations, mean there is a high chance of being discovered.
“The chances are you will be caught and prosecuted and you could face jail time."
Ms Spence said experience showed it was typically women who attempted to bring drugs into correctional centres.
"They face enormous pressure from imprisoned husbands, de factos, boyfriends, brothers, sons or other relatives to supply drugs,” she said.
"Women with no criminal convictions of their own can soon find themselves facing charges and the possibility of jail.”
In the 2007-08 financial year, 13 visitors were charged with 23 offences related to the attempted introduction of drugs into correctional centres.
All but one of those visitors were women, most aged under 30.
Media contact: 3239 6218