DRUGS, VIOLENCE TRIGGER MISSION PRISON LOCKDOWN

Mission Institution has been under a lockdown since Friday following
concerns over increased drug activity and inmate violence, Assistant
Warden Jonathan Ratzlaff said.

The procedure was initiated to help Corrections Canada conduct
searches for contraband drugs and weapons and to ensure the safety of
the public and inmates, he said.

"We're trying to determine who is muscling who, and
why.

"Things were coming to a head," Ratzlaff said.

A search of the facility turned up tobacco, marijuana and unidentified
pharmaceuticals.

"It's just a matter of shaking the place down," he
said.

Prison officials were hoping to lift the lockdown by today or
tomorrow, and resume scheduled visits, Ratzlaff said.

"We just want to get things back to normal."

Ratzlaff said it's next to impossible to stop the flow of illicit
items into the prison, but corrections officials were doing there best.

"All we can do is try to control it to a degree, I don't think we can
ever eliminate drugs in prisons," he said.