A 40-year-old inmate of the Mazaruni Prison was arrested on Friday last, after he was found with a number of contraband items.

Prison officers conducted a search after they received information that the inmate was smuggling the contraband inside the penitentiary. The prison warders, upon confronting the inmate, later learnt that the items had to be dug up from the ground. When this was done, they discovered a white plastic bag.

A search revealed five parcels wrapped with transparent plastic, which contained a quantity of cannabis weighing 584 grammes, six cellphones without SIM cards and three packs of Bristol cigarettes.
The inmate then revealed that he received the package from another prisoner but when this prisoner was confronted, he denied any knowledge of the package and its contents.

They were both arrested and taken to the Bartica Police station as investigations continue.
Subsequently, a raid was conducted at the Mazaruni Prison on Saturday by ranks of the Bartica Police Station where several contraband items were found; two cellular phones, one Digicel SIM card, two grams of cannabis and a quantity of improvised weapons and other prohibited items.