Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jun 2006
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.calgarysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

CRACKDOWN EYED FOR JAIL CONTRABAND

OTTAWA -- Federal prisons are brimming with a cornucopia of lethal 
weapons, hard-core drugs and home-made booze, but Corrections Canada 
brass are vowing to step up efforts to curb the contraband.

Documents obtained by Sun Media through access to information reveal 
that inmates have got their hands on everything from crack cocaine 
and heroin to explosives, hacksaws, pornography and classified 
government material.

In reference to explosives and handcuff keys, a notice from the 
Correctional Service of Canada accompanying the list explained that 
the "vast majority of those items were found in common areas and were 
of no concern."

Further, it noted none of the contraband items were found in 
possession of "high-profile" prisoners.

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional 
Officers, said the rise in drugs and weapons is creating more tension 
and danger in Canada's penitentiaries.

While there has been a "dramatic" increase of dangerous weapons 
because of escalating gang activity behind bars, officers are bound 
by limits on search and seizure, and often offenders aren't charged 
for drug possession, he said.

"That is a nightmare for us," Martel said. "CSC should review its 
policies on this. It seems like we need a search warrant to search a 
cell in the institution."

CSC spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said much contraband is seized 
at the door by security, but it's difficult to detect with thousands 
of visitors each day.

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Items Seized

Hash, marijuana, crack cocaine, ecstasy, alcohol, explosives, zip 
gun, homemade shanks, knives and other weapons, cellphone, classified 
material, government property, hacksaw, handcuff key, pornographic 
material, roach clip, drug syringe
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman