Jail drugs drop stopped

Staff monitoring a pay-phone at Christchurch Women's Prison have foiled a drug-smuggling attempt.

Prison manager Wayne McKnight said information heard over phone calls alerted staff to a drugs drop outside the prison fence line last week.

"It appears as though the package was left for prisoners involved with a grounds-keeping work party to collect ... staff were able to shut down the smuggling attempt, stopping the drugs getting inside the prison to the intended recipients."