Corrective Services NSW officers are reminding visitors to ensure their cars are contraband-free, after a weekend blitz at several NSW correctional centres uncovered drugs, knives, replica firearms and a can of pepper spray.
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And the South Coast Correctional Centre at South Nowra wasn’t excluded from the drama.
The operations, led by CSNSW’s specialised Security Operations Group in conjunction with NSW Police, resulted in at least 11 visitors being charged and another eight prevented from entering the centres at Lithgow, Mid North Coast, Shortland, Goulburn and South Coast.
On Saturday (October 13) a visitor was charged by NSW Police and denied entry into South Nowra Jail after Corrective Services NSW officers allegedly located and seized 30.7g tobacco hidden in the visitor’s bra.
A subsequent search of the visitor’s car located – 1.9g methamphetamine, -0.8g white powder, two glass smoking implements and 1054g tobacco.
The tobacco was allegedly located in the boot, packaged in balloons.
Again on Sunday (October 14) a visitor was also charged by police and denied entry into the jail after allegedly seized 5.9g Suboxone strips hidden in the waistband of the visitor’s pants.
A second visitor was also charged after Corrective Services NSW officers allegedly located and seized 11.4g of tobacco in balloons, hidden in the visitor’s bra.
A search of the visitor’s car also located 0.9g of a crystal substance.
Assistant Commissioner for Security and Intelligence Mark Wilson PSM said while some drugs were allegedly discovered on visitors, it is also an offence for visitors to have banned items in their cars when attending the complex.
“Anyone visiting a correctional centre needs to be aware that officers and K9s are out in force conducting contraband screenings and this includes searches of any property brought on site,” Mr Wilson said.
“We make sure no stone is left unturned. Everything on CSNSW property – whether it be a handbag, pram or car – is carefully inspected for contraband.
“Visitors need to use some common sense and ensure that they are not driving into a correctional facility with a boot full of hunting knives or anything else that is considered contraband in the custodial setting such as tobacco.”
During the operations, officers assisted by contraband detection-dogs found items including:
- two replica firearms, three knives, a can of pepper spray and a machete
- 1.13kg tobacco
- 1.06g white powder
- 4.19g crystal substance
- 0.34g amphetamine
- 1.42g ‘green vegetable matter’, potentially cannabis
- nine Valium tablets
- four syringes and two needles
- six smoking implements
Almost all of the contraband was allegedly discovered in visitor cars, including the replica firearms, knives, pepper spray and machete.
Visitors caught bringing banned items, including illegal and prescription drugs, to correctional centres face penalties of up to two years' imprisonment.
