CRACKDOWN EYED FOR JAIL CONTRABAND

OTTAWA -- Federal prisons are brimming with a cornucopia of lethal
weapons, hard-core drugs and home-made booze, but Corrections Canada
brass are vowing to step up efforts to curb the contraband.

Documents obtained by Sun Media through access to information reveal
that inmates have got their hands on everything from crack cocaine
and heroin to explosives, hacksaws, pornography and classified
government material.

In reference to explosives and handcuff keys, a notice from the
Correctional Service of Canada accompanying the list explained that
the "vast majority of those items were found in common areas and were
of no concern."

Further, it noted none of the contraband items were found in
possession of "high-profile" prisoners.

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional
Officers, said the rise in drugs and weapons is creating more tension
and danger in Canada's penitentiaries.

While there has been a "dramatic" increase of dangerous weapons
because of escalating gang activity behind bars, officers are bound
by limits on search and seizure, and often offenders aren't charged
for drug possession, he said.

"That is a nightmare for us," Martel said. "CSC should review its
policies on this. It seems like we need a search warrant to search a
cell in the institution."

CSC spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said much contraband is seized
at the door by security, but it's difficult to detect with thousands
of visitors each day.

Items Seized

Hash, marijuana, crack cocaine, ecstasy, alcohol, explosives, zip
gun, homemade shanks, knives and other weapons, cellphone, classified
material, government property, hacksaw, handcuff key, pornographic
material, roach clip, drug syringe