SMUGGLERS BUSTED

Stony Guards And RCMP Seize Drugs, Make Arrests

Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times -- The flow of illegal drugs into
Stony Mountain Institution was dealt a serious blow in the last month
as the result of a combined effort by Correctional Services staff and RCMP.

Between Jan. 15 and Feb. 5, five separate attempts to smuggle drugs
into the institution were thwarted resulting in five arrests.

"Our scope goes beyond care and custody," said Linda Garwood-Filbert,
acting assistant warden, in her office. "We are taking a more active
policing role, to keep the institution and the community safer."

And active corrections officers have been.

On Jan. 15, sharp-eyed visitor security staff noticed a woman pass
drugs to an inmate. The woman and another visitor were segregated,
the drugs were confiscated, and they were turned over to RCMP.

On Jan. 16, an inmate, being returned to the institution for breach
of release conditions, was isolated by the Detector Dog Team. He was
isolated to a segregation, or dry cell, and found to be concealing
drugs internally.

"The drugs were found in our Drug-Loo," Garwood-Filbert said. "It's a
Stony Mountain invention, by our plumbing department. They're being
installed in institutions Canada-wide."

Inmates "suitcase" drugs internally and then violate their
conditions, sometimes turning themselves in to police, in an effort
to get drugs inside the penitentiary. Segregated in a dry cell, any
human waste passed by an inmate is caught in the Drug-Loo.

"Inmates will deliberately violate their parole to smuggle drugs in,"
said Stonewall RCMP Staff Sgt. Gerry Thomas. "Inside, the price of
the drugs goes up significantly."

The next day, another visiting woman was isolated by the Detector Dog
Team, found to be in possession of two packages. Both she and the
drugs were turned over to RCMP.

Corrections officers on patrol on the evening of Feb. 2 pursued and
caught a Winnipeg man throwing drugs with an inside value of almost
$10,000 and a cellphone over a fence. He was arrested by RCMP.

Another throwover attempt was made on Feb. 5 and the man involved was
arrested. The drugs had an inside value of over $12,000. "That
individual was on parole," said Thomas. "He's now an inmate back in
the institution."

The RCMP and Stony Mountain Institution are committed to a strong
drug detection strategy that includes active perimeter patrols, dog
detection teams and an ionscan drug detector device to screen all visitors.

"Our message is this," said Garwood-Filbert. "Do not try to bring
these drugs into the institution. You will be caught."

Anyone who is being threatened or coerced into smuggling drugs to
relatives or friends in the institution can talk to staff and make
arrangements for protection by phone at 344-6000.