INSIDE, IN NEED OF A FIX, AND INGENIOUS

Books, contraceptives, Tupperware, underwear - you name it - it has
probably been used to smuggle drugs and other things into prisons.

While the number of interceptions of drugs and contraband, such as
cellphones and SIM cards, has dropped in the past five years, inmates
continue to think up ingenious ways to smuggle contraband in.

Tongariro-Rangipo Prison staff found cannabis resin and leaf stuffed
inside an inmate's deodorant bottle during a cell search this week.

Staff became suspicious when they found the container had been
tampered with, prison manager Steve Greer said. The inmate would be
charged with drug possession.

The Corrections Department used various methods to prevent and detect
drug use and contraband in prison, including intelligence, regular
searching, increased security and drug dogs, he said.

"We often conduct regular searches of cells, prisoners, visitors,
prison buildings and also conduct random drug tests on prisoners."

The department's website reported attempts by visitors to smuggle
contraband into prisons inside bras, men's underwear, Tupperware
containers, books and shoes.

Christchurch Prison staff once found drugs hidden in a baby's nappy, a
department spokesman said. "Inmates hide drugs pretty much anywhere
you care to imagine," he said.

Drugs, cellphones and SIM cards were the most common
contraband.

A former prison guard told The Dominion Post of inmates eating mail
soaked in lsd.

Tennis balls have been filled with cannabis and thrown over the
perimeter fence into the compound, and drugs have been found hidden in
a prisoner's dreadlocks, or under rolls of stomach fat.

"They have all day and all night to come up with new ways to get their
fix."

Corrections figures show that between 2005 and 2008, drugs were found
on people inside a penal institution almost 350 times - an average of
87 times a year. The figure rose sharply from 58 in 2005 to 100 in
2007. Last year the number dropped to 95, the same as in 2006.

Currently the number of prisoners with positive results for random
drug tests was at a record low of 10.5 per cent, the department said.

[sidebar]

SMUGGLING RECORD

A variety of methods has been used to smuggle drugs into prisons since
April:

August 12 - Visitor found with 28 'point' bags of P in car at Manawatu
Prison.

July 16 - Tupperware stuffed with cannabis found outside fence at
Tongariro-Rangipo Prison.

June 4 - P valued at $4000 found under metal flap in exercise yard at
Mt Eden Prison.

May 28 - Fifty grams of cannabis wrapped up in 25 "tinnies" found in
visitor's handbag at Hawke's Bay Prison. Ad Feedback

May 21 - Visitor found with 37 grams of cannabis stuffed down
underpants, also cannabis found in visitor's bra, and in gatehouse
toilet at Christchurch Prison.

May 5 - Visitor found with two grams of P in car at Tongariro- Rangipo
Prison.

April 4 - Visitor found with 11.7 grams, or $12,000 worth of
methamphetamine stuffed in underpants at Auckland Central Remand Prison.

April 17 - Contractor banned from working at Waikeria Prison after
cannabis found in car.

April 17 - Former prisoner and friend found trying to smuggle
cannabis, cellphone, charger and tobacco into Rimutaka Prison.

Also August - September 2008

- - Visitor found with 3.8 grams of P, worth $3800, at Waikeria
Prison.

- - Visitor car search uncovered 73 grams, or $73,000 worth of
methamphetamine, at Auckland Central Remand Prison.