News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINNIPEG, MB, September 6, 2007 - Stony Mountain Institution correctional officers, Security Intelligence Office and Detector Dog Team are credited with preventing the smuggling of drugs into the institution by several visitors recently.

On August 24th, a vehicle that was entering the penitentiary grounds for a cultural event was stopped by Corrections Officers. The occupants were detained based on reasonable grounds to believe there were contraband drugs in the vehicle. A further search of the vehicle revealed two suspicious packages. The packages and suspects were turned over to the Stonewall detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Each package contained approximately 28.5 grams of marijuana. The suspects have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. On the evening of August 29th, a visitor to the institution was checked by the drug dog and then subsequently interviewed. During the course of the interview, the subject admitted to being in possession of contraband drugs and voluntarily surrendered three small packages concealed in her clothing. The packages, suspected to contain a small amount of marijuana, and the woman was turned over to the RCMP.

The Correctional Service of Canada is committed to a zero tolerance policy 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 ionscan 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 Office 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 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 540 inmates in total at the facility.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Aimee Fortier
Media Relations Officer
Stony Mountain Institution
Correctional Service of Canada
(204) 344-5111