News Releases

Pacific Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AGASSIZ, BC, May 31, 2006 - Correctional officers apprehended three people outside the perimeter fence at maximum security Kent Institution during the evening of May 28.

The incident began when a motor patrol officer observed a male running through a field adjacent to Kent Institution's perimeter fence. This person attempted to throw a package over the fence.

The man and two other individuals who were hiding between trees were apprehended and detained by staff until RCMP arrived. No contraband was found on the individuals.

The area was searched and the drug detector dog located a package in the bushes. The package contained 57 grams of marijuana, 211 pills of Methanabol (steroid), 143 pills believed to be ecstasy, 10 mls of Deca-Durabolin (steroid), one syringe and five needles.

Kent Institution staff turned over the package to the RCMP.

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 at 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.

Kent Institution is a maximum-security facility operated by the Correctional Service of Canada. It is located in Agassiz and has a current population of 228 male offenders.

- 30 -

For more information, media representatives may contact:

Cheryl Loewen
A/Assistant Warden, Management Services
(604) 796-4404