Quick action by prison officers prevented a man from throwing a package over the wall of the Port-of-Spain State Prison on Tuesday morning.
At approximately 6:45 a.m, Prisons Officers assigned to the Port of Spain State Prison observed a man attempting to throw a package over the perimeter wall of the facility, in the vicinity of the intersection of Gordon Street and Pembroke Street.
As the Prisons Officers approached the man, who was dressed in a blue top and cream-coloured long pants, he fled the area on foot with the package still in his possession before it could be introduced into the prison compound.
The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has reminded members of the public that trafficking, or attempting to traffic, prohibited articles into or out of a prison is an offence under the Prisons Act, Chap. 13:01, as amended by the Miscellaneous Provisions (Law Enforcement Officers) Act, No. 25 of 2019.
This is not the first time that persons have attempted to throw packages over the prison walls in Port-of-Spain. In fact, reports suggest that some packages made their way into the prison.
At the Golden Grove State Prison, Arouca, prison officers have intercepted packages thrown over the wall by persons using drones.
Members of the public are therefore strongly cautioned against attempting to smuggle or otherwise introduce prohibited articles into any prison or correctional facility. Persons found engaging in such unlawful activities are liable to arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
The Prison Service said it remains committed to preventing the introduction of contraband into its institutions and will continue to work closely with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate and prosecute offenders.
