Ganja found in city prison

Officers of the Port-of-Spain CID were called to the Port-of-Spain prison yesterday after a quarter pound of marijuana was discovered close to the cellblock area.

The marijuana was discovered by a prison officer who alerted senior officers of the drug find. A report was made to the Port-of-Spain CID and Inspector Lynch and others went to the prison, where they interviewed several prisoners and prison officers. Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Mahoney confirmed late yesterday that police officers were carrying out an investigation into the drug find. He confirmed that he has had several reports of drug trafficking and other illegal acts at the prison, but no one has ever been able to present evidence on any of the accusations.

The commissioner also revealed that while fingers may be pointing to prison officers, drugs can enter the prison in several ways. He said that in some instances drugs can be thrown over the prison wall. He added that a report on the drug find will be forwarded to him today. Police investigators told Newsday that an investigation is being carried out to find out how the drugs were smuggled into the prison. Members of the public entering the Port-of-Spain prison are required to declare all their possessions. Prison officers are not searched. Police sources told Newsday that based on information received, drug trafficking is rampant inside the prisons. The drugs are sold to prisoners and the money is paid to prison officers by relatives of the inmates.

Police officers also discovered that some prisoners are allowed to speak to their families on cell phones provided by prison officers. Relatives are required to pay a fixed amount of money for that convenience. A senior prison officer told Newsday that several reports of drug trafficking and other illegal acts involving prison officers are being investigated but investigators have been unable to secure the much needed evidence to ensure the perpetrators are handed over to the police. President of the Prison Officers Association Claude Galston, when contacted yesterday, said he was unaware of the drug find at the prison.