By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Persons on the outside are not giving up!
From members of the public to prison officers entering the prison compounds with prohibited items, the new thing now is drones dropping these items.
The popular location for drone drop is the Maximum Security Prison at Arouca. Because of the large area at this prison, persons lurking outside the compound, fly in these items under the cover of darkness.
Because of the alertness of the prison officers, a lot of these prohibited items has been intercepted before they can reach the prisoners.
The latest incident.
Around 4:50 a.m. on Wednesday, officers attached to the Emergency Response Unit, acting on intelligence received regarding the delivery of contraband by drones, conducted checks within the prison compound and confiscated two packages. These packages were dropped hours before.
The packages were found to contain:
– Five hundred and fifty four (554) grams of plant-like material resembling that of marijuana;
– Ten (10) packs of Lucky Strike cigarettes; and
– One (1) blue Samsung cellular phone.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons, Elvin Scanterbury, commended the officers involved for their vigilance, professionalism and timely response in intercepting the suspected contraband deliveries.
The Prisons Commissioner noted that the use of technology, including drones, presents an evolving challenge to prison security and requires the Prison Service to continuously adapt its strategies and strengthen its security measures to counter attempts to circumvent established prison security protocols.
The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service continues to work closely with the police service as investigations into the incident remain ongoing. Investigations include finding out to whom the items were destined.
“The TTPrS reiterates its commitment to maintaining the safety, security and integrity of the nation’s correctional facilities and will continue to employ intelligence-led strategies to detect and prevent the introduction of prohibited articles into prisons.”
