Prison officer Dane Cooper lands himself behind bars on remand over alleged jail drug smuggling attempt

A prison guard has landed himself on the wrong side of the bars after being charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail where he worked.

Dane Cooper was arrested at Wellington Correctional Centre.

A corrections officer has landed himself on the wrong side of the steel prison bars after being charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail where he worked.

Dane Andrew Cooper, 45, had just arrived at Wellington Correctional Complex in the state’s west about 7.45am on Tuesday, when he walked past sniffer dogs who allegedly gave a positive indication for illicit substances.

When Cooper’s vehicle in the prison carpark was then searched, substances believed to include 13g of buprenorphine strips, 100g of tobacco and 27g of methylamphetamine – better known as ice – were allegedly found.

Corrective Services NSW guard Dane Cooper, 45, has been charged with allegedly trying to bring drugs including "ice" into Wellington Prison. Picture: Facebook

Cooper faced Dubbo Local Court on Tuesday where he made no application for bail and was remanded in custody until at least January 23. Picture: Facebook

Police were called to the jail and arrested Cooper, before taking him to Wellington Police Station where he was charged and later faced Dubbo Local Court where he made no application for bail and spent Tuesday night in custody.

Cooper is charged with offences including two counts of supplying a prohibited drug; bringing a prohibited drug into a place of detention, and possessing a prohibited drug.

Cooper had just arrived at Wellington Correctional Centre (pictured) when he was arrested.

A former beekeeper, Cooper only graduated as a corrections officer in July 2024 and is understood to have still been in his probationary period.

He will remain behind bars for at least two weeks until his next appearance in Dubbo Local Court on January 23.

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Originally published as Prison officer Dane Cooper lands himself behind bars on remand over alleged jail drug smuggling attempt