Prisons’ strict SOP, Rules to ensure no smuggling of items

KUALA LUMPUR: All prisons in the country have stringent standard operating procedure (SOP) and rules to control the movement of officials and visitors to ensure no contraband items are smuggled into the prison area.

Home Ministry secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim said the rules must be adhered to by all officers and prison officials before being allowed into the premises.

He added that all new prisoners were thoroughly frisked before being allowed into their prison cells, stressing that the police were strict over the matter.

Speaking to reporters after the National Anti-Drug Agency’s (NADA) open day ceremony at the Cure & Care Clinic here yesterday, Alwi said the ministry was also constantly reviewing the existing procedures and regulations and, if necessary, would improve them from time to time.

He was asked to comment on the existence of a syndicate supplying drugs to prisoners at the Simpang Renggam Prison in Johor.

On Jan 14, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun was reported to have said the police arrested five alleged members of a syndicate supplying drugs to inmates at the prison since last year.

Mohamad Fuzi said the police believed the syndicate was using the help of ‘insiders’ to get the drugs in.

Meanwhile, when asked whether the disbandment of the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) last year had affected operations against drug syndicates, Alwi said: “The disbandment of STING has not affected operations, and many raids have been carried out against drug dealers and laboratories by the (police) narcotics division.” - Bernama