News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABBOTSFORD, BC, January 27, 2006 - In the early morning of January 25, correctional officers observed suspicious activity adjacent to the Matsqui Institution property on King Road in Abbotsford. They saw two unidentified people fleeing from the federal penitentiary reserve. The officers reported their observations to the central control post.

Staff were dispatched to the area to investigate and they found a package between the two perimeter security fences. A preliminary analysis of the contents indicated the presence of approximately 60 grams of marijuana and 40 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy).

The presence of drugs inside institutions is of great concern to the Correctional Service of Canada as it is often related to the transmission of infectious diseases and violence in institutions. CSC is committed to eliminating drug use in its facilities by reducing both the supply of and demand for drugs among offenders.

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 337 male offenders.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

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