DOGS UNEARTH DRUG STASH IN PRISON

Drug sniffing dogs have discovered a "worrying amount" of drugs buried
in the grounds of Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt.

National Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Tony Coyle said a routine
search of the prison had uncovered a range of contraband goods,
including methamphetamine, cannabis, cannabis oil, a cellphone and
quantities of cash.

Some of the illicit items were hidden in cells and the rest was
buried, he said.

"It's a fair assumption to say there was some drug dealing going on
inside the prison."

He declined to specify what amounts of drugs were found, saying they
had been handed to police for analysis.

"Suffice it to say, it was a worrying amount of drugs - of course, any
amount is worrying, but it was a bit more than some."

It had not yet been established whether all the contraband found was
connected to the same operation, he said.

"I am not aware of any individual being charged yet
.

"Police are handling the investigation from here."

The find came about as part of the routine searching of inmates and
their facilities by corrections staff and drug dogs.

Mr Coyle said many inmates had drug problems and those problems were
often a cause of their offending. Several initiatives through the
prison's drug reduction strategy were designed to minimise the harm
caused.

"We target the supply of drugs into prison, the demand for drugs,
other crime associated with the supply and distribution of drugs and
the harm caused by drug abuse."

Visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, regular searches of cells and
prison buildings and a national free phone line were some of the
methods used.

Alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes were available for eligible
inmates. Prison staff also liaised with police in making use of
crime-related intelligence.

Mr Coyle described the find as highlighting the "excellent work of
corrections staff in detecting drugs and other illegal material that
has entered prison".

A spokesman for the Upper Hutt CIB said investigators had not yet
confirmed the identity of those responsible, but should have done so
by Friday.