KEY POINTS:
A kiss on the lips, tennis balls and even a dead bird are among the crafty methods criminals are using to smuggle drugs and cellphone equipment into prisons, Department of Corrections staff have revealed.
Eight weeks into an inquiry into allegations that jail staff have been smuggling contraband for prisoners, department chief executive Barry Matthews has admitted 150 cellphones have been found at Rimutaka Prison in the past year.
In its efforts to combat the problem, the department has spent thousands of dollars on equipment to detect cellphones and is even considering network-disabling technology, although this would mean prison staff would be unable to use cellphones while working.
Mr Matthews said some people might view the 150 cellphone seizures as negative, but it showed the department was making inroads into the problem.
Visitors were a common avenue for smuggling banned items but Mr Matthews admitted it was possible prison staff were to blame.
"I think it would be foolish to say that some staff haven't brought any of this in, but I don't believe it's more than a minority of staff."
Mr Matthews said he knew of visitors arriving at the prison with cellphone Sim cards in their mouths, then kissing prisoners, who swallowed the item and waited for it to pass through them.
Mr Matthews said that in New Plymouth, drugs were smuggled in inside a dead bird that was thrown over a fence.
Baby clothing and food were also used to conceal contraband and items were commonly stashed in tennis balls, television sets and stereos.
Mr Matthews said the 150 cellphones found at Rimutaka in the year to March 31 had been taken from prisoners after the use of "intelligence", which included surveillance sweeping technology that could detect the phones while they were being used.
"We are very pleased ... We've put a lot of effort into the detection of cellphones, and I have to say that the fact we've been successful each month in detecting cellphones indicates that our technology is working."
Mr Matthews said Corrections staff were discussing with telecommunications companies the possibility of disabling networks in the area of the prison, which would mean staff would also be prevented from using mobile phones.
During searches of prison cells, cellphones and cellphone components such as Sim cards had been found in light switch fittings, televisions and stereos, he said.
Mr Matthews said he could not say how much the department had spent on tracking equipment, but it was thousands of dollars.
The investigation into prison staff corruption was proceeding well, but there was no time frame as to when it would be finished, he said.
Eleven staff have been suspended from the prison during the inquiry, four over allegations of corruption and the rest as a result of other allegations, including assault.
Any others suspected of corruption would be investigated by police.
Mr Matthews said cellphones were a threat because prisoners could use them to maintain criminal networks or to undermine prison security.
