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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 (May 15).
The comments followed the case of a remand inmate swallowing dangerous drugs before admission and sharing them with other inmates after discharging them in his stool.
The remand, surnamed Li, was admitted to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) yesterday (May 14) on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs. As Li has a drug abuse history, he was put in the LCKRC Hospital upon admission for close observation.
Acting on intelligence that Li might have swallowed some drugs before his admission, department officers conducted a surprise search on him this morning and subsequently seized from him a plastic bag with 10 tablets of suspected midazolam wrapped inside. Li admitted that he swallowed a total of 20 tablets of midazolam before admission to LCKRC, excreted all of them yesterday and then shared 10 with five other inmates.
The five inmates involved have been segregated for investigation. The department is ascertaining whether more dangerous drugs are still concealed by Li. The incident has been reported to the police.
There were 93 seizures of dangerous drugs last year (2008) and 37 this year up to March 31, with the seizures mainly in the reception centres.
Ends/Friday, May 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:01
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