Lusignan inmates found with weed, rum, other contraband

Two prisoners were discovered with 553 grams of cannabis, cigarettes, 5-year-old rum, Guinness and other contraband items concealed in bread bins/containers at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the discovery was made on November 17.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels reported to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn that at about 14:50h on the day, two prisoners, under the supervision of a Prison Officer, were transporting four bread bins from the prison’s kitchen to the Holding Bay when the Gate Officer on duty conducted a search and unearthed the following prohibited items:

• Five hundred and fifty-three (553) grams of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be Cannabis Sativa
• Quantity of ‘Fronto’ leaves
• One (1) Cartoon ‘slow burner’
• Ten (10) packs of ‘Bamboo’
• Quantity of Small zip lock bags
• Fifteen (15) cartoons of cigarette
• Five (5) lighters
• One (1) Cellular phone charger
• Four (4) packs Winter Fresh gums
• One (1) Tropical Mist water bottle containing Five-year-old rum
• One (1) Tropical Mist water bottle containing Guinness
• One (1) small bottle vodka
• One (1) bottle hard wine

The police were called in and an investigation was launched. As such, three prison officers have been charged departmentally for neglect of duty and are under investigation for criminal conduct.

“These departmental charges will in no way prevent these Officers being charged criminally if the investigations find they were involved in the illegal act,” the Ministry said.