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The Correctional Services Department (CSD) took every measure to prevent the smuggling of dangerous drugs into correctional institutions and eradicate their presence there, a department spokesperson said today (April 9).
The comments followed a case of suspected dangerous drugs seized from a 33-year-old remand prisoner by CSD officers today.
The prisoner, surnamed So, was admitted to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) on April 2 for a theft offence.
As So had a drug abuse history, he was put in the LCKRC Hospital upon admission for treatment and sanitisation.
This morning, he was seen by a department officer trying to hide a pack of tissue paper in his pocket. Two half pieces and five complete tablets of a suspected dangerous drug was subsequently found in the packet of tissue paper. So admitted that he swallowed the seized items before admission to LCKRC and passed them through excretion after his discharge from the hospital yesterday (April 8).
An investigation by the department continues into whether more dangerous drugs are still concealed by So.
The incident has been reported to the police.
There were 93 seizures of dangerous drugs in 2008 with the seizures mainly in reception centres.
Ends/Thursday, April 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:31
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