A Prison Officer was arrested for possession of prohibited items by officers of the Arouca Criminal Investigations Department after they responded to a report from the Maximum Security Prison (MSP).

On Wednesday 2nd September, the officer reported for duty at MSP, when he was stopped at the scanner room, where his stomach and chest were observed to be bulging.

In an attempt to conduct an additional physical search, the officer ran out of the scanner room and into the lobby where an alarm was raised and the gates were closed. The officer then ran into the sentry office and threw four packages over a wall while an attempt was made to stop the suspected officer.

The suspected officer reportedly kicked his colleague in his chest. Other prison officers rendered assistance and the suspected officer was detained.

A search was conducted and four clear plastic packages containing cigarettes were retrieved. When the packages were checked in front of the suspected officer, it amounted to 400 cigarettes.

Additional search was conducted on the officer’s vehicle, where six packs of cigarettes, three wrapped parcels containing 30 cigarettes each, two Samsung cellular phones, two scales, and an assortment of chargers and headsets were recovered.

The suspected officer was arrested for possession of prohibited items and taken to the Arouca Police Station.

The exercise was spearheaded by Ag, Cpl Forde, assisted by members of the Prison Intelligence Unit and the K-9 Unit.

Investigations are continuing.