Director of Prisons sounds warning over continued contraband smuggling

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, has sternly warned that members of the public and prison officers found colluding in smuggling contraband into the various prison facilities would face the full consequences of the law.
In a statement on Thursday, the Director of Prisons explained that despite increased monitoring and surveillance activities at all prison locations, it has been observed that several attempts have been made by members of the public to smuggle contraband into the various prison facilities over the past weeks. This, he said, is an offence under Section 53 (1) of the Prison Act, and it attracts a fine or a period of imprisonment.
He warned that there will be no letup in bringing down corrupt officers, family members, and friends of inmates who are bent on breaking the law.
Elliot further noted that with more sophisticated means of stopping and seizing contraband before it reaches a facility’s population, several persons have been searched and subsequently arrested. The situation, he added, should be a concern, as he reminded officers of their duties and sternly warned that those found culpable would face the law.

He further said that while efforts are being made to improve the physical structures and improve the use of technology, the reliance is presently on the human factor.
This message comes one day after at least two improvised weapons were found among several contraband items during a raid at the New Amsterdam Prison. The search, which lasted for about two hours, was conducted within the male and female dormitories in a collaborative effort between members of the Guyana Police Force and Prison Service.
The items confiscated were five cell phones, ten cigarette lighters, two improvised weapons, three cellphone chargers, and 137 grams of ganja. The items were taken to, and lodged at, the Central Police Station.
In May 2022, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) introduced a stop-and-search initiative within the confines of each prison location in a bid to end the continued flow of contraband into the prisons.
In October, it was announced that Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has taken steps to fortify prison security in order to prevent breaches.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had assured, “A review has been conducted within the prison system concerning where individuals are to be kept, their interactions with the public, and the maintenance of SOPs and discipline. We cannot relax within the system.”
This move was in light of the May 2023 escape of convicted killer Royden Williams, known as ‘Smallie’, from the Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven, which the Minister said exposed vulnerabilities within the prison system and raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures.
In response to the incident, the Prison Service had announced a series of measures to curb the smuggling of contraband into prison facilities. Tightening security protocols, increasing surveillance, and deploying advanced detection technologies were among the strategies being implemented to prevent the infiltration of illegal items into prisons. These efforts were part of a broader initiative to create a more secure environment within the prison walls.