KEY POINTS:
A delay in cellphone blockers being installed at prisons is to blame for inmates being able to be involved in drug trafficking, National Party corrections spokesman Simon Power says.
A methamphetamine production ring was busted yesterday with eight inmates arrested.
Police arrested 12 people, including prisoners at prisons in Auckland and Waikato, under Operation Web, which involved police, customs and corrections staff .
Police executed more than 20 search warrants in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, Spring Hill in Waikato and in houses around Auckland.
Large quantities of substances used to make methamphetamine were seized, with police saying that would disrupt the manufacture of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in the North Island.
Mr Power said the fact prisoners were involved showed the Government had not acted quick enough to install the blocking technology.
"They did nothing for years."
He also criticised the Corrections Department saying it had not properly funded call monitoring.
Corrections Minister Phil Goff this morning said there was legislation before Parliament to help the department and give it more powers to search.
Agreements with telcos had already been made to install telephone jamming devices in every prison - an initiative in which New Zealand was a world leader, Mr Goff said.
"So even if you smuggle a cellphone into prison you won't be able to use it."
Devices had been installed in four prisons and installation was expected to be completed everywhere by February next year.
Mr Goff said more inmates had been arrested because of better surveillance.
All telephone payphone calls were recorded and randomly monitored.
"Prisons are picking up incredibly valuable intelligence that is being passed on to police that is resulting in the prevention of crime, the detection of crime and conviction of those involved."
- NZPA
