X-rays prevent contraband drugs, blades and gum entering NSW prisons

Razor blades, opioids, phones and even contraband bubblegum are just some of the items prisoners have been caught smuggling thanks to X-ray tech. Warning: Images may be confronting.

The prison economy in NSW has taken a hit as corrective services install new body scanning technology in NSW’s prisons.

X-ray technology is being used on inmates to prevent them from taking drugs and contraband into prison.

Goods worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the prison economy have already been discovered.

One visitor to Lithgow Correctional Centre tried to smuggle in 400 strips of buprenorphine, worth about $400,000 in jail, in her bra.

Also found in the bra was some white powder and brown vegetable matter.

Buprenorphine strips and brown vegetable matter found during a suspected contraband drop at Lithgow Correctional Centre. Picture: Supplied

The X-rays have also been successful identifying contraband stuffed into internal cavities.

One inmate was found to have smuggled a Laser mobile phone in his anal cavity, which was later discovered in his cell toilet.

An X-ray search of an inmate led to the discovery of a mobile phone in his rectum.

The mobile phone in question, later extracted from a toilet.

Another inmate had similarly inserted a small 20mm motor, similar to the type found in CD Walkmans.

Razor blades swallowed by one of the inmates were also picked up on x-ray and extracted.

One particularly large haul discovered were two So Good soy milk cartons concealing 100 buprenorphine strips, 4 mobile phones, charging cables, multiple tobacco packets, a toothbrush, bubblegum and two sponges.

While items such as bubblegum may seem innocent, inmates are not allowed to take any items into prison with them, leading them to go to extreme measures to smuggle goods in.

This inmate attempted to smuggle a razor blade by swallowing it.

Another visitor attempted to get 30 strips of buprenorphine to an inmate, wrapped in cling-wrap inside a letter. Others tried smuggling vapes in their pyjamas. There have also been reports of tennis balls filled with drugs flung over the fence into the prison yard.

In prisons the price of drugs and other items often far exceeds their street value on the outside. While a 5 microgram patch of buprenorphine is $30 from a chemist, the drug can sell for up to $1000 a strip in prison.

A stash of contraband found inside soy milk cartons, including buprenorphine strips, mobile phones, charging cables – and bubblegum.

White powder and tablets found in another scan.

Minister for Corrections Geoff Lee said the NSW Government has invested $15 million in body scanning technology since 2020 to prevent contraband from entering prisons.

“Intercepting banned items means there is less contraband circulating among inmates across the state – it makes our prisons a safer place,” he said.

“Stopping contraband from entering prisons is a challenge for corrections worldwide, but thanks to all NSW prison staff, we’re able to crack down on contraband at every opportunity.

“The scanners also act as a deterrent to inmates, as they know that screening is mandatory when they arrive at prison and after each contact visit.”

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Kevin Corcoran warned there was no longer any place to hide smuggled goods as the X-rays highlight new methods with which contraband is smuggled in.

“CSNSW is focused on detecting and intercepting all contraband in NSW prisons and takes a zero-tolerance approach,” he said.

“Our correctional centre staff undertake targeted and random searches every day for illegal items on inmates, visitors, in cells and all common areas.”