The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has confirmed that a prison officer was held earlier today after he was found to be in possession of a quantity of plant-like material, cash, and cigarettes.
According to an initial report, the prison officer, who has four years of service and is attached to the Maximum Security Prison, was searched inside the prison by police officers attached to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, ‘Operations’, when he reported for duty at around 8am. Several packets containing plant-like material, a sum of cash, and cigarettes were found on his person during the intelligence-led exercise. The officer was then escorted to his vehicle, where an additional cache of similar items was discovered. He was then advised that a search of his home would be conducted, following which he was escorted to the Besson Street Police Station, where he is expected to be formally charged.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons Hayden Forde stated that the crackdown on traffickers will always be a major priority of the Prisons Administration. In previous forums, he issued stern warnings to officers regarding acts of trafficking by stating, “Any officer caught trafficking during my time as Acting Commissioner will be transported to the Division they were delivering contraband to, and will spend time with their criminal friends. Judgement Day will come if you feel trafficking is the way to go.”
Commissioner Forde further stated that he is encouraged by the overwhelming amount of information retained via the Prison Service Hotline 800-PRSN (7776) and urges persons with any information about criminal actions relative to the prison to continue to utilise the platform. In the same vein, he also commended the hard-working officers who continue to uphold the image of and represent the Prison Service in the best way possible.