News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINNIPEG, MB, July 10, 2006 - Correctional officers, the security intelligence office and Stony Mountain's detector dog team are credited with preventing the smuggling of drugs into the institution over the last week. From June 26 to July 4, four separate major seizures of contraband were made, including the single largest seizure in Stony Mountain Institution's history.

On June 26, acting on direction from the security intelligence office, the detector dog team performed a check of an inmate's effects prior to his admission to the segregation area of the prison. The dog located several packages containing pharmaceuticals, marijuana, and suspected crack cocaine. The drugs were turned over to the Stonewall detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the inmate is being charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On the evening of June 27, inmates returning from visits were being routinely searched at a security checkpoint. Once the searching was complete, officers checking the area located a package that had been dropped in the hallway before the check-point. The package was found to contain marijuana and crack cocaine, with a total institutional value of approximately $7,750. The package was turned over to the RCMP and the security intelligence office is investigating.

On July 2, a tower officer observed an inmate attempting to retrieve a package that had been caught in the perimeter fencing. The package was recovered and found to contain a large amount of marijuana, morphine, and heroin. Total estimated institutional value is approximately $34,420, the single largest seizure in Stony Mountain Institution's history. The contents of the package were turned over to Stonewall RCMP. The security intelligence office is investigating.

On the evening of July 4, acting on a number of officer observations, a visitor was confronted by the detector dog team. As a result, the visitor was found to be in possession of contraband. The visitor and unopened package were turned over to Stonewall detachment RCMP and the woman has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Correctional officers are trained to observe and act on suspicious activity as well as conduct routine searches. The use of an ion scan machine at the main entrance can detect drugs that are on or have been in contact with visitors. The drug dog can detect hidden drugs, be they on people or otherwise. The security intelligence department receives, analyzes, and acts upon intelligence information from various sources. There is also a community policing relationship with the nearby Village of Stony Mountain and the RCMP that has 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 influence 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 575 inmates in total at the facility.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Lisa Waddell
(204) 344-5111