Townsville Custodial Correctional Officers disrupts drug plans
Queensland Corrective Services have praised Custodial Correctional Officers for foiling several complex plans to introduce drugs and other prohibited items into Townsville Correctional Complex.
More than a dozen prisoners have been charged over the offences thanks to a joint investigation between QCS’ Intelligence Unit and Queensland Police Service following an intensive four-month investigation.
Several items were seized as part of the investigation including Suboxone, Methamphetamine, tobacco, mobile phones and vapes among many other prohibited items.
General Manager of Townsville Correctional Complex Louise Kneeshaw said QCS had a zero-tolerance approach to the introduction of drugs into correctional centres.
“A lot of hard work went into achieving this success and it has been satisfying to hold so many prisoners accountable for their illicit activity,” Chief Superintendent Kneeshaw said.
“I want to thank all the officers involved in this investigation in both searching and providing our Intelligence Unit with those crucial bits of information that continue to help ensure the safety, security, and good order at Townsville Correctional Complex.
“The continued collaboration with QPS, the information sharing within the centre, the diligence and vigilance of staff is having real and measurable impacts.
“Correctional centres are controlled environments for a reason and introducing illicit substances endangers the safety of our officers, visitors and prisoners.
“Contraband has absolutely no place at our centres.”
Detectives from the Major and Organised Crime squad charged 13 prisoners with 77 offences, including four for drug trafficking, 38 for drug supply, eight breaches of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Act and 27 offences against the Corrective Services Act for introducing prohibited items into
Townsville Men’s Correctional Centre.
In total, 37 people, including prisoners and alleged offenders in the community, were charged with 210 offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs, supply dangerous drugs, money laundering, contravene domestic violence order (aggravated offence).