News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABBOTSFORD, BC, December 23, 2005 - The lockdown of inmates at Matsqui Institution ended at 5:00 pm Friday December 23. Regularly scheduled visits and other planned activities over the holiday period are recommencing.

Inmates have been locked in their cells since December 19 to facilitate searching of the institution after some live ammunition and knives were found during a search. Searching was ordered in order to locate any other weapon-related contraband, drugs or home brew.

The search resulted in the confiscation of home-made brews, home-made weapons, and numerous drugs including heroin, drug paraphernalia, cash and other unauthorized items. No further ammunition was found.

Matsqui Institution is a medium security facility operated by the Correctional Service of Canada. It is located in Abbotsford and has a current population of 323 male offenders.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Randie F. Scott
Acting Assistant Warden, Management Services
(604) 859-4841