Contraband find, Townsville Corrections Complex

Officers from Townsville Correctional Complex have been praised for their efforts in preventing approximately $27,000 in drugs entering the centre in an operation on the weekend.

General Manager Townsville Correctional Complex, Chief Superintendent Louise Kneeshaw said the operation was carefully coordinated with Queensland Police to disrupt drug introduction into the prison.

“Officers from Intelligence, Corrective Service Investigations Unit, and the Dog Squad worked with Queensland Police as a part of a targeted strategy to disrupt the introduction of drugs to the prison,” Ch Supt Kneeshaw said.

It will be alleged that a network of individuals in the community coordinated the transportation and consolidation of the shipment and attempted to introduce it into the prison on the weekend.

One of TCC’s newest canine recruits, Passive Alert Drug Detection dog Leah, played an important role in the operation, indicating on a would-be visitor to the centre before the 21-year-old woman was questioned first by visits staff and then Queensland Police.

It will be alleged that the woman had a number of packages secreted in her clothing.

Ch Supt Kneeshaw praised the work of officers in identifying the potential threat to the prison.

“This is an example of the capability and commitment of the officers at Townsville Correctional Centre. They worked seamlessly with Queensland Police and Child Safety to identify and intercept the drugs.

The 21-year-old Kelso woman was charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs within a correctional facility and taking a prohibited thing into a corrective services facility and given a notice to appear at Townsville Magistrate’s Court on September 21.