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Prairies Region

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Bowden, AB, August 2, 2007 - On July 31, correctional officers at the institutional main entrance intercepted 200 morphine pills meant for an inmate serving a sentence in the institution.

Acting on intelligence information, correctional officers interviewed a female visitor who admitted to carrying the narcotics and turned the drugs over to officers. The institutional value of the contraband is approximately $20,000.

RCMP was notified of the seizure and the visitor was escorted off the property.

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. Bowden Institution has implemented a toll free tip line for staff to gather information.

Bowden Institution is a federal penitentiary located 100 km north of Calgary, currently accommodating 589 medium security and 79 minimum security inmates.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Rick Mollan
Bowden Institution
(403) 227-3391