News Releases

Pacific Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABBOTSFORD, BC, March 22, 2006 - Just after midnight on March 19, a correctional officer found a tennis ball containing illicit drugs at the base of the outside perimeter fence at Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford.

A routine daylight search of the institution's exercise yard was subsequently conducted and another tennis ball containing drugs was also discovered.

The first tennis ball, found by the correctional officer outside the fence, contained more than 600 steroid pills (identified as 'Dianabol') while the tennis ball found inside the exercise yard contained 21 grams of marijuana.

The presence of drugs in prisons continues to be of great concern to the Correctional Service of Canada as it is often related to the commission of crimes, 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.

The Correctional Service of Canada has set up a telephone tip-line at all federal institutions in the Pacific Region to provide an additional source for receiving information about activities that relate to safety and security of CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of people visiting, working at or housed within a CSC facility.

The toll-free tip-line number, 1-866-955-5550, assures that information received is protected and callers may choose to remain anonymous.

People who want to report information about offenders being supervised in the community are asked to continue to call Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477) or the local parole office.

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 325 male offenders.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

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