Weapons seized in smuggling crack down at Victorian jails
Hundreds of knives have been seized as Victorian authorities step up efforts to stop weapons and drugs being smuggled into the state's jails.
Seven News was given exclusive access inside one prison to see the technology officers are using, and the extreme lengths some prisoners are going to.
For some inmates, survival is a religion - and their methods of concealing dangerous weapons have evolved accordingly.
A blade hidden inside a wooden crucifix, and a knife within the spine of a bible, along with a chessboard that unfolds to reveal a hidden crevice hiding a knife.
Corrections Victoria Assistant Commissioner Craig Howard said: "I think there's a fair bit of time and effort put into trying to create spaces where they conceal things that we haven't seen before."
As technology expands, so too do the methods used to smuggle in contraband.
"The visitors sometimes bring it in their mouth, they'll try to share it with the prisoner via mouth, they'll drop it into take away items they're allowed to have in the course of visits," Mr Howard said.
"Unfortunately, it's common for children to be used as carriers to bring certain things in, and we also see contraband brought in inside shoes."
In just nine months, 282 knives were seized, along with 201 syringes, 115 drug-smoking devices, and three batons.
In addition, 100 litres of alcohol was confiscated, 145 grams of white powder, and 60 grams of cannabis.
A device, known as a cellsense, has been introduced into Victorian prisons in recent weeks.
It uses frequencies to detect metal objects, some hidden in mattresses, like shivs, knives and mobile phones.
But, when it comes to sniffing out modern methods of drug smuggling, a keener sense is required.
"Bupomorphine is the most common type of drug that we see introduced into prisons and largely that's because it's very cheap in the community, it's very small, it consists in wafer form," Mr Howard said.
It's a constant game of chess between prison staff and increasingly resourceful prisoners, but one in which authorities believe they have gained the upper hand.
