Islandwide operations to stop drug smuggling into prisons

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry officials yesterday said regular islandwide security operations will be conducted to prevent drugs and illegal items, such as mobile phones being smuggled into prisons.

According to Ministry Secretary A Dissanayake, search operations will be conducted with the support of Defence and Urban Development Ministry.

He said these illegal items, are taken to prisons by outsiders and action has been taken to curb this situation.

"Houses situated close to prisons will also be searched for drugs," Dissanayake said.

He also said drugs are smuggled into prisons mostly by the relatives of inmates during visits and sometimes drug dealers throw packets of drugs over the prison walls.