‘Warning’ bullets found in max security prison as tensions rise

It’s home to a violent mix of criminals. An alarming find inside Melbourne Assessment Prison has authorities on alert as tensions between ‘dangerous caged criminals’ rise.

Lethal contraband was smuggled into a maximum-security prison amid rising tensions between rival jail gangs.

Two .22 caliber bullets were found hidden behind a flexible electrical conduit last week at Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Prison source say the bullets were likely intended as a “warning” to an inmate.

It comes as jail yard tempers flare between dangerous caged criminals.

Outlaw motorcycle gangster, Middle Eastern crime figures and members of the notorious Prisoners of War gang make up the violent mix of prisoners currently held at the West Melbourne facility.

Bullets were found hidden last week at Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Finks bikie boss Brent ‘BJ’ Reker and associates were moved from the prison on Thursday, according to the insider.

Another high-profile inmate was moved to Port Phillip Prison a week earlier due to threats, he said.

The insider feared trouble could be brewing.

“We have a lot of big players in the yard … bikies, Chinese triads, Middle Eastern crime figures and Prisoners of War,” he said.

Brent James Reker. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“Most of the gangs hate each other. It’s tense at the moment.”

The prison went into immediate lockdown after the bullets were located due to concerns of potential further threats against staff or inmates.

Two shivs, made out of mop bucket rollers, were found hidden within gloves within the same unit.

Prison authorities are believed to be looking at the possibility a visitor smuggled the ammunition into the facility.

It is also possible the bullets were concealed within a ‘cavity’ of an new inmate.

A Corrections Victoria spokesman said ion scanners are among the measures used to prevent dangerous items from entering the prison.

He credited “diligent searching” by prison staff in locating the contraband. “Prison officers work extremely hard to detect contraband, and use a number of detection measures including-drug detection dogs, intelligence operations and extensive searching,” he said.

“Prisons also employ a range of barrier-control methods, including ion scanners.

“Any prisoner or visitor found to have introduced contraband into prisons is referred to Victoria Police for investigation.”

Reker is accused of violently bashing a man with a baseball bat and tyre lever in a Hampton Park home last September.

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The heavily tattooed strongman allegedly carried out the attack with three other patched Finks members before threatening to kill the victim’s partner and children.

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