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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Prisons clamp down on drug smuggling
Ananova
Tuesday 04 Dec 2001 Sniffer dogs have been sent into Northern Ireland's top security prison to crack down on the smuggling of drugs to inmates. The dogs have detected the scent of drugs on around five per cent of visitors to Co Antrim's Maghaberry Prison. Since November 20, the four dogs made 84 indications of the presence of drugs. The two Labrador and two Springer Spaniels sit down in front of anyone they smell drugs on to alert their handlers. Those suspected of carrying drugs are not searched, not arrested, simply refused their visit. They are not handed over to police. A Prison Service spokeswoman said it was their responsibility to "tackle drug abuse and the serious problems it causes in prison". She said the visitor may not be actually carrying drugs into the prison but have got the scent on their clothes by sitting next to someone who possessed drugs. In the near future, a suspect visitor will not even be turned away but offered a "closed visit", meaning they and the inmate are kept from apart by screens. An outraged Ulster Unionist MP said the police should become involved when a visitor was suspected of trying to carry drugs into the jail. While welcoming the anti-drug measures, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said: "The possession of drugs is illegal and I would hope there might be scope for co-operation with the police."
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