Attempt to use child as drug courier into prison

A young boy was used as a courier in an attempt to smuggle drugs into Christchurch Men's Prison on Saturday.

Prison manager John Roper said staff saw a woman reach into the child's pants, remove something and hide it in his jersey after she came through the prison's entrance.

"We detained the woman and the four children with her under the Corrections Act and found a package with what appeared to be cannabis oil, pills and methamphetamine," he said.

Police went to the prison and arrested the woman, who was allowed to organise childcare for the children before she was taken away.

"There is a high demand for drugs in prison, a large number of prisoners come to prison with drug and alcohol dependency and wish to continue that behaviour when in prison," Mr Roper said.

"Sadly these prisoners put a lot of pressure on their family and friends to aid them in their attempts to gain this contraband."

- NZPA