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A detector dog has foiled an attempt to smuggle methamphetamine and cocaine into Rimutaka Prison.
The dog, Bart, was helping his handler with a routine search of incoming property at the Upper Hutt prison earlier this month when he made the find.
During the search, Bart gave a strong indication on a box of sneakers and would not leave the box alone, Corrections said in a statement.
Several bags of drugs were found in the sneakers, which were being brought into Rimutaka Prison. Photo / Corrections
His handler, John Thorne, began manually searching the shoes, carefully checking all of the usual cavities for concealment. However, he did not find anything of concern.
“Bart was adamant that he was right, so I knew I needed to keep searching,” Thorne said. “I checked the padding around the heel and then I felt an inconsistency.
“I ripped open that cavity and found a bag of white powder. I then felt the padding on the other side of the shoe and I felt a similar inconsistency. I checked the other shoe and it was the same on both sides.”
The incident was immediately reported to police and the substances were collected to be tested.
Police have since confirmed the contraband as two small bags of methamphetamine about 2.5g, and four larger bags of cocaine, about 22.5g.
“I trusted my dog and so I couldn’t accept that there was nothing there,” Thorne said.
“Let this be a clear message to anyone attempting to bring in or send any contraband to our sites – you will be caught.
Detector dog Bart would not leave the sneakers alone during the routine search. Photo / Corrections
“There is no place for drugs in prison. They create a more dangerous working environment for our staff, and prevent prisoners from engaging in rehabilitation, education and employment opportunities.”
Corrections places significant emphasis on the prevention and detection of contraband introduction in prisons and work to stay a step ahead of new methods used to introduce contraband into prisons.
A range of methods are used at prisons across New Zealand to prevent drugs, weapons, cellphones and other prohibited items from entering. They include 22 operational detector dog handlers operating 26 dogs across the country, X-ray technology, telephone monitoring of prisoners’ calls and single points of entry to sites.
Statistics released to the Herald in 2022 show there were 659 pieces of contraband intercepted at Rimutaka Prison over the course of 14 months.
The items seized included 64 tattooing devices, 58 improvised weapons for stabbing or cutting, 53 pills or tablets, and 50 cellphones.
Other contraband included ammunition or explosives, drugs, hobby tools, gang paraphernalia and pornography, among other things.
In an earlier statement to the Herald, Corrections said contraband could enter the prison concealed on someone’s body, posted in with mail or property, or thrown over the perimeter fencing.
“Sometimes the people we manage place a significant amount of pressure on their partners, friends, or associates to risk attempting to bring contraband into prison for them,” said the statement from then-Acting National Commissioner Leigh Marsh.
Okotai Ruaporo was asked to collect the food package from the inmate’s family and bring it in for his birthday, which Ruaporo did after church the Sunday prior to his shift at the prison.
While entering the prison he put the bag through the X-ray machine, and cannabis was discovered with the food items. Ruaporo had no knowledge of the drugs and was not sentenced for that.
There is also a case going through the Hutt Valley District Court at the moment for a group of Corrections officers accused of corruption and bribery at Rimutaka Prison.
Two former Corrections officers, one prisoner, a woman and a current Corrections officer were charged with corruptly giving a bribe, accepting a bribe, or being party to the bribe of an official.
According to charging documents, one of the prison guards is accused of accepting a bribe of sex with the woman outside the wire, arranged by a prisoner. In exchange, he allegedly brought contraband on to the prison grounds.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
