REECE

Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, is hailing a new surveillance system which has led to the apprehension of several inmates and the termination of at least one correctional officer's services after he was found to be involved in trafficking contraband through the island's prisons.

While declining to give details of the surveillance system, Major Reese said at least six inmates have been apprehended since January and one correctional officer's job terminated.

One woman was also arrested on the weekend after she attempted to smuggle 112 pellets of ganja into the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. At least $67,000 has been recovered intotal so far.

Drug trafficking

In the latest of incidents, another correctional officer at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre has found himself under investigation after an inmate was caught attempting to traffic two and a half pounds of ganja and thousands of dollars into the facility on Saturday.

The inmate was reportedly accosted at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon after he was seen carrying a soiled pair of pants which he said was to be repaired. When searched by warders, the carefully wrapped pants were found to contain two and half pounds of ganja and $37,000 in cash. The pants belonged to a correctional officer in the prison who, it is reported, has not shown up to work since the incident. The Spanish Town police were called in to investigate.

Over the past three weeks, prison authorities have seized a total of 35 pounds of ganja in St. Catherine.

"We have to give credit to the operation of some vigilant (correctional) officers who are committed to clamping down on trafficking through the prisons and members of the public are also cooperating," Major Reese told The Gleaner.

"We are also apprehending them ... not just those inside who traffic but those on the outside try to smuggle contraband into the prison," he said.