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.