News Releases

Prairies Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINNIPEG, MB, February 6, 2006 - Stonewall RCMP, Correctional Officers, Visitor Security Officers, Security Intelligence Officers, and Stony Mountain's Drug Detection Dog Team are credited with preventing the smuggling of drugs into the institution over the past three weeks. From January 15th to February 5th, five separate attempts to introduce drugs were defeated, resulting in five arrests.

On the morning of January 15, 2006, Visitor Security staff witnessed a visitor passing a suspicious object to an inmate. The inmate was searched and the object recovered. A subsequent search of the visitor's vehicle discovered even more drugs. The inmate involved was segregated and the visitor, vehicle driver, and evidence were turned over to the Stonewall detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

On the afternoon of January 16, 2006, an inmate being admitted to the institution was routinely searched by the Detector Dog Team. Based on the results of that search, as well as investigation by Security Intelligence staff, the officers subsequently recovered three separate packages that the inmate had been concealing internally. The packages have been turned over to the RCMP. On the evening of January 17, 2006, a visitor to the institution was searched by the Detector Dog Team. Based on the results of that search, the visitor was referred to the Security Intelligence officer for an interview. During the course of that interview, the subject was determined to be in possession of two packages. The visitor and evidence have been turned over to the RCMP.

On the evening of February 2nd Officers observed a package being thrown over the fence of the institution. The suspect was apprehended on Penitentiary property while attempting to flee from the officers on foot. He was subsequently held and arrested by the Stonewall RCMP. The seizure resulted in the confiscation of a cell phone and charger, 6 grams of crack cocaine and 91 grams of marijuana with and estimated institutional value of $9,380.

On Sunday, February 5th, a Winnipeg man was seen throwing a package over the prison wall and was arrested on Penitentiary property following a short foot pursuit from a Correctional Officer. The man was turned over to Stonewall RCMP and held in custody. The package handed over to RCMP contained substances believed to be Oxycontin, Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and marijuana, having an institutional value of $12,500.

The RCMP and the Correctional Service Canada are committed to a zero tolerance policy that uses a combination of screening techniques for visitors, and dynamic security provided by Correctional Officers. The use of a drug detection dog and an ionscan machine at the main entrance can detect drugs that are on or have been in contact with visitors. There is also a community policing relationship with the nearby Village of Stony Mountain and the RCMP that have resulted in tips and arrests.

Stony Mountain acknowledges that visitors play an important role in preventing the flow of drugs into our prisons. We would like to make the public aware that inmates may try to force visitors to smuggle drugs into the prisons using manipulation, threats, violence and blackmail. If visitors are being threatened or coerced into bringing drugs to a friend or family member, the institution has staff that they can talk to and help to arrange for their safety in the community. That contact number is (204) 344-6000.

Stony Mountain Institution is a federal institution for medium security inmates located 11 kilometers north of Winnipeg. There are currently 541 inmates in total at the facility.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Linda Garwood-Filbert
A/Assistant Warden, Management Services
Correctional Service of Canada
(204) 344-5111

or

Gerry Thomas
S/Sgt
Stonewall RCMP Detachment
(204) 467-5015 or (204) 467-5585