News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DRUMHELLER, AB, July 21, 2007 - Correctional Officers at the institution's main entrance intercepted 27.7 grams of hashish oil meant for an inmate serving a sentence in the institution. The institution's drug detection dog alerted, on a woman arriving for a pre-scheduled visit. Based on that alert, the woman was interviewed by institutional staff and surrendered a package containing the contraband. The institutional value of the contraband is approximately $13,300. The woman was detained at the institution until members of the RCMP arrived. The RCMP arrested the woman and charges are pending.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is committed to a zero tolerance policy on illegal drugs. The CSC has a national drug interdiction strategy that uses a combination of screening techniques for visitors, and dynamic security provided by Correctional Officers. 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, including partnerships with community partners. Drumheller Institution has implemented a toll free tip line for staff to gather information.

Drumheller Institution is a federal penitentiary located 140 km northeast of Calgary, currently accommodating 538 medium security and 59 minimum security inmates.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

John Shannon
Drumheller Institution
Correctional Service of Canada
(403) 820-6136
(403)820-0336(cell)