News Releases

Quebec Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DONNACONA, QC, August 19, 2005 - Significant quantities of drugs introduced for the purpose of trafficking were discovered between August 17 and 19, 2005, at Donnacona Institution, a federal maximum security penitentiary. The behaviour of certain inmates on the evening of August 16 drew the attention of officers and entailed the partial closure of the Institution. Information gathering led to an extensive search of the facilities and to body searches of numerous inmates.

Efforts of numerous correctional officers, technical services staff and a team of CSC dog-handlers, with the support of Québec Police Service dog-handlers, led to the seizure of a large number of packages of narcotics that inmates had thrown over the fence of the exercise yard. Some inmates had also concealed narcotics in their cells and in their body cavities. Prohibited items and hand made weapons were also discovered.

Analysis of the drugs seized by staff revealed the presence of 380 grams of hashish with a value inside the Institution of $38,000. The inmates involved were placed in segregation and will be subject to disciplinary action. Sûreté du Québec investigators met with a number of them and several charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking will probably be laid.

This new operation is testament to the Correctional Service of Canada's resolve on preventing the introduction of narcotics into its institutions. The traffic and use of narcotics threaten the security of the Institution and its inmates as they are the cause of inmate indebtedness and intoxication, two factors that contribute greatly to violence in the prison environment.

Since the beginning of the 2005 fiscal year, the following drugs have been seized at Donnacona Institution: 1,006.9 g of hashish, 159.03 g of marijuana, 3.1 g of cocaine, 0.2 g of crack, 21 g of steroids, 3 Desyrel pills and 29 Ecstasy pills.

The total institutional value of these drugs is approximately $113,492.

The authorities at Donnacona Institution wish to remind citizens that there is a toll free telephone line (1 866 355 DONA or (3662)) for reporting any pressure to which a visitor may be subjected by other visitors and/or inmates involved in drug trafficking, intimidation, assault and loan sharking. Such information is treated with confidentiality and a security intelligence officer will provide follow up.

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For further information, media representatives are asked to contact:

Stéphane Jaillet
Assistant Warden, Management Services
(418) 285-2455, ext. 2110