Baby Used By 'Mule' To Conceal Drugs

Drug dog Roxy’s latest find at Northland Region Corrections facility has again highlighted the sad and desperate measures some people will go to when trying to smuggle drugs into prison.

In a search operation at the Kaikohe site on Friday, Roxy indicated that a female visitor might have drugs in her vehicle.

“She herself was then searched using the dog and, again, Roxy indicated the presence of drugs. The woman was detained by staff and Police were called. Prior to the Police arriving she handed over a blue balloon filled with over 20 grams of cannabis – it had been concealed on the baby she was holding,” says Acting Prison Manager Chris Gisler.

“This is a great result by our staff, and Roxy, working together to prevent drugs entering the prison. Secure borders means greater safety for the community, our staff, and other prisoners. However, it’s horrific for a baby to be used in this way, and saddening that it isn’t uncommon.”

“Prisoners exert all kinds of pressure on their partners, their parents and their friends to bring drugs into the prison for them. Drugs have such a stronghold on some prisoners that they will blackmail friends, threaten people with violence or send gang associates around to the family home to frighten or harm their partners. It’s abhorrent,” says Mr Gisler.

“I imagine that the woman arrested on Friday is relieved. We have been told by Police that she is facing charges for attempting to bring drugs into a prison, and we will also be banning her from visiting the site for 12 months. This means the pressure is off her and she won’t be asked to bring drugs inside again for a long time.”

“I want to encourage every single person to speak up if they are being pressured by a prisoner to bring drugs inside.”

“If you do it once and manage to get past our staff, you will be seen by prisoners as a reliable mule. You will then be expected to do it again and again, even if the prisoner says he’s desperate and it will only be just the once.

“You will get caught, and you will get charged by Police. Why risk it? Call 0800 JAIL SAFE, report it confidentially, and we will work with Police to ensure you are safe if you are being pressured.”