Waikeria Prison vege patch raid stops contraband getting inside

Picture of contraband seized by corrections officers from a vegetable patch at Waikeria Prison.

Green fingered inmates at Waikeria Prison would have had an unexpected surprise when all they found was dirt and healthy edibles in the prison's vegetable patch last week.

Vigilant staff at the central North Island prison discovered a stash of contraband in the male prison's vegetable patch.

Items found included synthetic cannabis, tobacco, lighters, mobile phones, chargers and sim cards.

The contraband was packaged up and thrown into the garden area, but staff found the packages before they could be collected by prisoners who work in that part of the unit.

A Corrections NZ tweet this morning read, "Excellent work by corrections officers who intercepted contraband from prison vege patch before it got to prisoners".

Excellent work by corrections officers who intercepted contraband from prison vege patch before it got to prisoners 🌱🥕📱🌽🌱 pic.twitter.com/9qADruAR1B

— CorrectionsNZ (@CorrectionsNZ) August 21, 2017

Deputy Prison Director Dave Alty said, "Thanks to the diligence and hard work of our staff, the contraband was found before it got to prisoners.

"Contraband is dangerous in a prison environment. We work hard to prevent it being introduced to our prisons, and to identify those responsible."

Contraband in prisons includes tobacco, alcohol, communication devices, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tattoo equipment, and weapons.

It also includes some everyday and seemingly innocent items that while not illegal, may be used inappropriately by prisoners.

Contraband seized included cellphones, chargers, and sim cards.

Cellphones are unauthorised as they can be used to organise the introduction of contraband, facilitate criminal activities in the community, and harass victims.

"Corrections manages some of New Zealand's most dangerous and anti-social individuals," Alty said.

"There will always be some prisoners who attempt to push boundaries and try to smuggle contraband items into prison using a wide range of methods."

He said the security of prison facilities, and the safety of those accommodated and working within them is paramount.

"Corrections staff put a significant amount of effort into stopping contraband from being introduced into our prisons.

"Our intelligence staff are constantly working to identify and mitigate risk areas in the physical environment and to stay informed about new methods of concealment."