On Sunday, November 8, 2026, between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., an intelligence-led search exercise was conducted at the Maximum Security Prison targeting cells within four (04) Divisions.
During the exercise, officers discovered and confiscated the following items:
- Six (6) cellular phones;
- Four (4) charging devices;
- Three (3) USB cables;
- Seven (7) improvised weapons;
- Four (4) packs of cigarettes;
- Three (3) packs of wrapping paper;
- One hundred and one dollars (TT$101.00) in cash;
- One (1) switchblade;
- One (1) pocket scale;
- One (1) cigarette lighter; and
- Eighty-six point one grams (86.1 grams) of plant-like material resembling marijuana.
Investigations into the discovery are ongoing, and charges are expected to be laid.
Commissioner of Prisons (Ag.) Mr. Elvin Scanterbury commended all officers involved in the successful execution of the exercise. He emphasised that the discovery of improvised weapons and other prohibited items highlights the significant security risks within the nation’s correctional facilities and the dangers Prisons Officers face in the execution of their duties on a daily basis.
The Commissioner further expressed serious concern about the presence of knives, switchblades and other improvised weapons within correctional facilities, noting that these items pose a direct and potentially life-threatening threat to both Prisons Officers and inmates. Such weapons can be used to inflict serious bodily injuries, facilitate assaults, intimidate individuals and escalate disputes into violent confrontations. Prisons Officers are particularly exposed to these dangers while conducting searches, supervising inmates, responding to incidents and maintaining order within the prisons. Equally, inmates are placed at risk of serious injury or loss of life when prohibited weapons circulate within the prison environment.
He further highlighted that the use of technology to introduce prohibited articles into correctional facilities presents an increasingly complex challenge for the Prison Service. Despite these challenges, the Service remains committed to combating contraband trafficking with the assistance of external law enforcement agencies to safeguard Prisons Officers, inmates and the wider public.