More than 200 phones, narcotics discovered during raids in prisons last year

More than 200 mobile phones had been discovered during search operations inside prisons last year, a report by the Prisons Department has shown.

The report shows that 213 phone accessories, 268 SIM cards, 224 packets of heroin, one packet of kerala cannabis, eight narcotic tablets, 107 tobacco leaves, 78 cigarettes, and Rs 64,920 in cash, were also discovered during these search operations.

Three prison officers have been arrested so far in connection with these seizures, the Prisons Department noted.

Meanwhile, the report said that 1,473 inmates who displayed good conduct and have been successfully rehabilitated, were released from prisons last year. These figures include 918 inmates who were granted presidential pardon on National Day, and on the Day of Vesak.

The Prisons Department has spent nearly Rs 3.5 million last year to conduct rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, the report by the Department shows.