Body scan technology unveils shock finds on visitors entering prisons

Body scans and CCTV footage have revealed the extreme lengths criminals are willing to go to bring contraband into prisons.

Criminals are going to extreme lengths in a bid to smuggle contraband into prisons, including swallowing razors and shoving opioids in their underwear.

Body scans and CCTV footage released by Corrective Service NSW has highlighted the extreme steps visitors to prisons are taking.

Corrections staff were vigilant and one step ahead of resourceful smugglers, Corrections Minister Geoff Lee said.

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

Two soy milk cartons were used to conceal 100 buprenorphine strips, four mobile phones, charging cables and tobacco packets. Picture: NSW Police

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

A recent X-ray screening at an NSW correctional centre found an inmate had dangerously swallowed a razor in a bid to smuggle it past security, while officers also discovered a bra stuffed with about 400 buprenorphine strips, which they estimated to be worth about $400,000 in prison.

Buprenorphine strips is a prescription drug which is used as a replacement in the treatment of heroin and methadone.

The underwear also contained white powder, tablets and brown vegetable matter.

In another instance, a mobile phone was found to have been “secreted internally” and then hidden inside a toilet S-bend, suggesting it had been swallowed by an inmate or visitor.

A further 30 strips of buprenorphine were wrapped in cling film and hidden inside a letter in a separate smuggling effort.

Corrections officers had observed a bizarre exchange between a visitor and prisoner on CCTV footage, in which several items were swapped between the pair Picture: NSW Police

An X-ray scan revealing a bra had been stuffed with several contraband items during the visit. Picture: NSW Police

The scanners were still doing their job as a deterrent in the prison system, Dr Lee said.

“In 2020, the NSW Government invested $15m in body scanning technology, which is preventing drugs and other contraband being smuggled into prisons internally,” he said.

“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.”

Police evidence bags containing the smuggled buprenorphine strips. Picture: NSW Police

Corrective Services NSW commissioner Kevin Corcoran praised prison staff for being “proactive” and said there was no place to hide for smugglers because officers were quick to learn about new methods.

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

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