Updated - Three tested positive for drugs in prison last year
There is currently no equipment at the prisons to detect the presence of drugs, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici has said in reply to a parliamentary question.
The subject was raised by Labour MP Joe Mizzi, who asked what equipment the prison authorities use to counter the presence of drugs in the prisons. He also asked when the equipment was bought and whether it would be upgraded.
Replying to other questions, the minister said no prisoners were admitted to hospital suffering drug overdoses between 1998 and 2011 and none had died as a result of drugs.
He said the prison authorities can test the prisoners for drugs, and those refusing the test would face disciplinary action.
He said one prisoner refused to take a drug test last year and another in 2010.
Of the 240 drug tests on prisoners carried out last year, three were positive and the rest were negative.
There were 24 refusals in 2009 and 78 in 2008.
Last year, 14 people were found trying to smuggle drugs into the prison. Two were found trying to take in mobile phones.
The drugs situation at the prison was the focus of public attention last month during the trial and subsequent conviction of a former inmate who was accused of trafficking drugs in the prisons.The case is being appealed.
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m borg
Jan 20th, 13:52
No wonder flimkien kollox possibli.
Victor Vella
Jan 19th, 23:14
The minister KMB said that drugs in prison is an illusion.
George Busuttil
Jan 19th, 20:03
The prison authorities seem to be convinced that the majority of drugs in prison are brought there by prisoners' family members and other visitors although these are searched and prisoners are also searched both before an after the visits.
Figures being mentioned are, to say the least, questionable and depend on how when and on whom tests are carried.
Up to some years ago the prison had drug detecting equipment; sniffer dogs. These were present at all times when visitors were caalling at the prison. We've been asking for some time now what happened to these dogs and why they are not used anymore.
George Busuttil
Director
Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl Foundation
Martin Abela
Jan 19th, 17:54
How many tests were made, were they on newly admitted, those sentenced, those in Remand, or were these inmates going out for work???.
These figures are ludricious.
Joseph Calleja
Jan 19th, 17:17
Carmel Mifsud Bonnici is this another funny joke of yours? And why don't we have modern equipment at the prisons to detect the presence of drugs? Whose responsibility is that? Why don't you maybe, have a little talk with the prison queen or maybe the Warden in charge? I don't think you have any idea of what goes on in our prisons and or our courts till lately, because you have been exposed by Franco Debono. Time to wake up and accept responsibility and that also goes for the whole government. Stop the business as usual attitude. I suggest you have a quiet consultation with il- Pips as they call him. He has lots of information to offer. He has inside information about the drug problem in Hotel Corradino and Hotel Mt Carmel. When a cell is being kept exclusive to accommodate the assets ( TVs etc) of a certain privileged prisoner, Mr Minister, somebody on the inside knows more than you are admitting. Give us all a break.
R. Balzan
Jan 19th, 17:10
This - once again - gives credence to Franco Debono's opinion on the competency of CMB as Minister for Home Affairs. Everybody is convinced that there is a HUGE drugs problem in our prisons and yet tests only give 3 positive results last year. The question is not why there is no equipment at the prisons to detect the presence of drugs, but why the minister and his predecessors have not done anything to about it. I can let him borrow my springer spaniel if he wants!
Joe Grech
Jan 19th, 16:50
Instead of beating about the bush Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici shoudl explain WHY in this time and age no such drug detecting equipment was made available to law enforcers at the Corradino prison, err ''correctional facility''.
He should also explain WHY he did not do anything when it was reported to him personally that some Magistrates were possibly abusing Bomb Scares at Court by neglecting to continue their day's work once the bomb scare was over.
Alfred Bugeja
Jan 19th, 17:17
For such equipment to be made available, that equipment first needs to EXIST.
Read the messages below. Everyone seems to concur that the only effective means to find hidden drugs is by deploying sniffer dogs. Unless of course you consider dogs to be 'equipment'.
Joe Grech
Jan 19th, 17:47
@ Alfred Bugeja - you make a very valid point. But why were sniffer dogs not used to detect drugs in prison if circumstances proved that drugs were doing the rounds there? Possibly Carm Mifsud Bonnici will answer this question.
Martin Abela
Jan 19th, 19:27
Such equipment exists check http://www.smithsdetection.com/IONSCAN_500DT.php that is one product it does check for both drugs and explosives, explosives aren't only bombs but also gunpowder as in bullets.
I do know for a fact that dogs get annoyed and tired after 20 to 40 minutes, last I know all dog section personnel were deployed on escorts and an inmate was taking care of the dogs.
Marianne Grech
Jan 19th, 16:42
The only drug detecting equipment that I am aware of its existance involves swabbing a sample which is then put in a machine which then gives a positive or negative result for different substances. It would be pretty useless in a prison environment where drugs would be very carefully hidden away. Nothing beats a dog to finding out where drugs are hidden. It's all down to their highly developed and sensitive sense of smell.
There used to be a dog section within the prison walls.
Mr James Hamilton
Jan 19th, 16:33
Who needs modern equipment to detect the presence of drugs? ........All that’s needed is a couple of "sniffer dogs", they'll easily find if there are any drugs being handed around.
carmel muscat
Jan 19th, 16:29
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Joseph Calleja
Jan 19th, 16:56
And what does all this have to do with drugs at Corradino Hotel?
mark borg
Jan 19th, 20:16
True GONZIPN is drowning....but nothing to do with this article !
Michael Borg
Jan 19th, 16:28
they use dogs whioch are very cost effective !!!
anton cassar
Jan 19th, 17:07
They removed them too !
Charles Micallef
Jan 19th, 16:21
I thought that the best thing to detect drugs at Corradino will be a sniffer dog!
Alfred Bugeja
Jan 19th, 16:19
Everyone knows that the only effective method to detect drugs anywhere, be they airports, public buildings is by deploying dogs.
Dogs are not "equipment", so Joe Mizzi should rephrase his question.
Martin Abela
Jan 19th, 19:22
No today there are drug detection equipment, that sniffs for drug traces, like Ion Scan, they permit a high level of sampling and are almost false alarm free.
akrim mamood
Jan 19th, 16:17
Tell us something new!!!!!!!
L. Schulte
Jan 19th, 16:06
Didnt they say a while ago that the drug problem in Corradino was totally exagerated? How would they know, if they have no means to test this hypothesis of theirs?
D. A . Agius
Jan 19th, 16:01
Better to invest money in new BMW's, Jaguars etc.
They can blow their veins to smithereens for all they care.
Prison is simply the place for those not wise enough not to get caught. Easily lost, a few more will take their place on the street any time.