Dead inmate had history of smuggling drugs

File photo / NZ Herald

A prisoner who died of a drug overdose at Otago Corrections Facility had smuggled drugs into prison previously, a Coroners Court hearing has heard.

During the second day of the coronial inquest into the death of Jai Davis, 30, Mongrel Mob member Che Cooper told the court Mr Davis had smuggled drugs into prison "about 10 times before".

"He used to do it all the time," he said.

Mr Cooper said Mr Davis would conceal the drugs in his rectum.

"I don't think that time [when he died] he was expecting to go into that cell so he wouldn't have wrapped it that well."

Mr Davis normally used plastic wrap to contain the drugs in his rectum, Mr Cooper said.

He later heard Mr Davis had 60 codeine, 100 valium and an unknown quantity of marijuana on him at the time of his death.