The acting commander of ‘B’ Division Kevin Adonis has confirmed that a 38- year- old female prison officer along with a convicted prisoner were arrested after trying to smuggle 298 grammes of marijuana into the New Amsterdam Prison late yesterday Sunday, October 23, 2016.
News Room understands that Joanna Erskine of Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice who was on duty at the time and stationed at the security hut handed over a bag containing the marijuana to a convicted prisoner whose name was given only as ‘Tyson’.
He was instructed to deliver the items to another inmate in the facility.
According to information received ‘Tyson,’ a head cook and convicted prisoner at the prison and who previously resided at Queenston Village, Essequibo Coast had just finished cooking when he was confronted by Erskine, who asked him to take a bag into the penitentiary that she said contained medications and biscuits.
However, as ‘Tyson’ was making his way through an inside gate with the items, he was stopped and searched by a senior prison officer who found what appeared to be leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be marijuana.
The inmate was arrested and upon questioning revealed that the items were given to him by Erskine. She later admitted to giving the convicted prisoner the bag containing the items.
The female prison officer along with the inmate were arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station where the items were weighed and amounted to 298 grammes.
According to the acting commander, the files have since been prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice so that charges can be laid against the accused.
This bust comes even as allegations are being peddled that several prison officers are smuggling drugs and other prohibited items into the prison to the inmates.
Other sources are also claiming that the accused prison officer attempted to snatch the bag from the senior officer during the search and a scuffle ensued between them.
Investigations are ongoing.
