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Visitors to Lotus Glen are among 13 people who’ve been charged in a police crackdown on a drug trafficking network operating at the Atherton Tablelands correctional facility.
Six inmates will also face court following Operation Tango Artesian, which has been a thirteen-month long investigation.
Police will allege visitors sourced and smuggled in drugs to a network of prisoners, who sold the contraband to other inmates.
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A variety of drugs were seized, including large quantities of Suboxone strips with a street value of over $337,000.
Known generically as Buprenorphine, it’s a prescription medication used to treat opioid dependence.
General Manager of Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, Chief Superintendent Gabby Payne, said cannabis and steroids were also found.
“Contraband in our prisons puts the lives of prison officers, prisoners and visitors at serious risk and Queensland Corrective Services has a zero-tolerance approach,” she said.
“Our intelligence team identified the risk of illicit substances being introduced into the correctional centre and worked with police to disrupt this criminal activity and prevent dangerous contraband from entering and being circulated.
“This is another outstanding example of our officers gathering intelligence and working closely with police to identify and charge those who would compromise the safety and security of our correctional centres by introducing illicit substances.”
In all, 26 charges were laid, including trafficking in dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs to a Correctional Facility and possessing dangerous drugs.
Main points
- More than $300,000 worth of Suboxone strips were seized, among other drugs
- It's a medication used to treat opioid addiction
- Both visitors and inmates have been charged
