Dogs unearth drug stash in prison

Drug sniffing dogs have discovered a "worrying amount" of drugs buried in the grounds of Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt.

National Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Tony Coyle said a routine search of the prison had uncovered a range of contraband goods, including methamphetamine, cannabis, cannabis oil, a cellphone and quantities of cash.

Some of the illicit items were hidden in cells and the rest was buried, he said.

"It's a fair assumption to say there was some drug dealing going on inside the prison."

He declined to specify what amounts of drugs were found, saying they had been handed to police for analysis.

"Suffice it to say, it was a worrying amount of drugs - of course, any amount is worrying, but it was a bit more than some."

It had not yet been established whether all the contraband found was connected to the same operation, he said.

"I am not aware of any individual being charged yet ...

"Police are handling the investigation from here."

The find came about as part of the routine searching of inmates and their facilities by corrections staff and drug dogs.

Mr Coyle said many inmates had drug problems and those problems were often a cause of their offending. Several initiatives through the prison's drug reduction strategy were designed to minimise the harm caused.

"We target the supply of drugs into prison, the demand for drugs, other crime associated with the supply and distribution of drugs and the harm caused by drug abuse."

Visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, regular searches of cells and prison buildings and a national free phone line were some of the methods used.

Alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes were available for eligible inmates. Prison staff also liaised with police in making use of crime-related intelligence.

Mr Coyle described the find as highlighting the "excellent work of corrections staff in detecting drugs and other illegal material that has entered prison".

A spokesman for the Upper Hutt CIB said investigators had not yet confirmed the identity of those responsible, but should have done so by Friday.

- NZPA