No drugs were found during a spot check at the Paola prison yesterday but several unauthorised items – such as mobile phones – were confiscated from the inmates.

The random inspection was carried out in divisions 1 and 2 and within the school at the Corradino Correctional Facility.

A total of 91 cells were searched during the inspection, which went on for more than three hours, the Home Affairs Ministry said.

The search was ordered by the director of prison as part of the Government’s commitment to clean up the prison from drugs.

Twenty-six correctional officers and members of the prison Special Response Team and the police dog section took part in the search.

Two mobile phones, an internet key, a hard disk, a pen drive and a SIM card were among the items found, the ministry said.

The ministry reported last week that two prison officers tested positive for drugs in a random urine test.

Drugs were also found in a delivery van entering prison and the driver was jailed.