An alert female Prison Officer who was on duty at the main gate of the New Amsterdam Prison on the 9th December 2023, at about 07:30 hrs, saw a colleague (another female Prison Officer) enter the compound through the front gate with a green water bottle in her hands.
The SOP specified that a search be conducted on “all prison officers entering the compound”. As such, the female officer searched her colleague but nothing was found. The officer then carried out a search of the water bottle that she was holding. Inside the water bottle was a transparent taped package containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be Cannabis.
The officer contacted her supervisor after which a further search was carried out, in her presence, on her motor car PZZ 1197. On the floor behind the driver’s seat, a black plastic bag containing two transparent parcels wrapped with tape was found. An examination was carried out on the parcels, and it was observed that a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be Cannabis was found.
The Police were summoned and parcels of suspected marijuana were handed over which, when weighed, amounted to 289 grams. The water bottle was also handed over to the Police.
The female Prison Officer was arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station.
On the 9th of December, 2023 between 11:02 and 11:18 hours, a video and audio interview was conducted with the arrested officer. The female Prison Officer remains in custody, assisting with the investigation.
