NSW Prisons: Corrections staff allegedly bribed $40k to smuggle contraband

Tens of thousands of dollars in bribes are allegedly being offered up to correctives staff to smuggle contraband into NSW prisons.

Correctional officers have allegedly become the target of criminal network plans to smuggle millions of dollars worth of drugs and other contraband into NSW prisons — with big cash rewards up for grabs for those willing to risk being caught.

NewsLocal can reveal NSW Corrective Services issued warnings to officers that they were “being watched” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as visitations from the public were cut off.

Raids taking place at the Parklea Correctional Centre where a knife, mobile phones and drugs hidden in toilets, food packages and televisions were discovered in the prison. (AAP Images/ CORRECTIVE SERVICES NSW)

A Corrective Services source, who did not wish to be named, said officers were allegedly being bribed with cash upwards of $45,000 to smuggle illegal substances into prisons.

“There is big money on offer right now,” the source said. “Before COVID-19, 80 per cent of contraband was brought through by public visits.

“But when visitation ceased, inmates and their family members turned to officers and other

staff to fill the gap.”

On December 30, police charged a correctives officer from the south coast Correctional Centre, who allegedly received $40,000 in bribes from family members of two male inmates to traffic prescription medication and prohibited drugs into the facility.

She is facing several serious charges, including supply prohibited drug; agent corruptly receive benefit; holder of public office misconduct herself; recklessly deal with proceeds of crime (money/property) and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime. She has not yet entered pleas.

While in July last year, police arrested a Correctives NSW staff member as he started his shift at Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre in Windsor, allegedly seizing contraband from the boot of his car.

Police allege the man was trafficking tobacco and prescription medications among other contraband into the facility for financial benefits from the family members of inmates. He is yet to make a plea on the charges.

While speaking about the issue generally and not commenting on the pending charges, the Correctives NSW source told NewsLocal NSW Police and Corrective Services have launched dozens of investigations in prisons across the state, which foiled several plots by prisoners and officers alike.

“It doesn’t surprise anyone that the department is investigating and catching officers out,” the source said. “The cost of drugs like buprenorphine and tobacco has skyrocketed, meaning there is big cash being offered to officers, but Corrective Services has established an elaborate process to catch officers in the act.”

In a case heard at Wollongong Local Court, police stated in documents that each strip of buprenorphine, or “Bupe” had a jail price tag of between $100 and $400 around March of that year — the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tabs of Bupe confiscated during a search at Parklea Prison last year. Picture: MTC-Broadspectrum.

Bupe is an opioid used to treat opioid use disorder. Illegal Buprenorphine is widely sought after in NSW Prisons, resulting in Corrective Services rolling out a distribution course for eligible inmates.

NSW Police and Corrective Services refused to provide figures on the number of charges laid against NSW Correctional Officers freely, instead ordering NewsLocal to submit a freedom of information request.

“Since March last year, two officers have been charged in relation to the alleged smuggling of buprenorphine into correctional centres,” a Corrective Services spokeswoman confirmed.

In November, two correctives officers were arrested in Sydney’s northwest following a sting by the Corrective Services Investigation Unit’s Strike Force Bundawarrah.

The officers were arrested alongside six other men and two women following investigations into the introduction of contraband.

Police allege the men were involved in trafficking contraband into the facility for financial benefits from the family members of inmates.

Meanwhile, NSW Police charged a female officer and a male officer following an investigation into the introduction of contraband at a correctional centre on the state’s Mid North Coast in September and June last year.

Police allege the woman trafficked tobacco and two mobile phone chargers into a correctional facility in July.

Prison officers seized mobile phones, drugs, tobacco and other contraband from the minimum-security area of Parklea Correctional Centre during a joint search operation.

In the state’s Central West a former Corrective Services officer was hit with charges for 10 offences after the CSIU launched Strike Force Zandona to investigate corruption at a facility near Dubbo.

“During the investigation, detectives received information that a female Corrective Services NSW officer was involved in the introduction of contraband at a facility near Dubbo,” NSW Police said following charges.

“The woman was … charged with six counts of agent corruptly receive benefit, two counts of supply prohibited drug, holder of public office misconduct herself and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.”

Police allege the woman trafficked contraband, including prohibited drugs and tobacco, into a facility in return for financial benefits from the family members of inmates, while employed as a Corrective Services NSW officer.

While in April, a Nowra correctional officer was arrested after Police allegedly found two mobile phones, as well as methylamphetamine and heroin at the officer’s home.

Police allege the man trafficked three packages — including a mobile phone and prohibited drugs — into the facility in return for financial benefits of up to $6400 from the family members of inmates.