TOBACCO-addicted maximum security prisoners are paying more than $20 for a single rolled cigarette in a black market trade which has erupted following the state’s prisons going smoke-free.
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A black market operation was uncovered at Cessnock jail on Monday, with authorities spruiking the seizure of 15 tobacco pouches and other contraband inside a garbage bin.
Corrective Services NSW said each of the pouches, which can make between 50 and 65 rolled cigarettes, could be sold for $300 inside the minimum-security wings of the prison.
But Fairfax Media understands that the same pouches are being smuggled into the maximum security sections for up to $800 each, before the dealer begins breaking up the tobacco into smaller “deals” to make their own profit.
The pouches can be bought over the counter at supermarkets for between $30 and $70.
Tobacco has quickly become the contraband of choice within many jails, including Cessnock, since the prisons became smoke free in August 2015.
In the past year, 223 visitors have been banned from jails for trafficking tobacco.
Corrective Services NSW said Cessnock jail’s northern special operations group was staking out the visitor’s car park on Monday when they intercepted two works-release inmates trying to collect the contraband from a garbage bin.
Along with the 15 pouches of rolling tobacco, they also seized 19 strips of buprenorphine (a heroin replacement); 2.2gm of a crystal powder;10 packets of rolling paper; five syringes; and 10 hypodermic needles.
The find came as authorities reminded prison visitors that there was a zero tolerance approach to tobacco being smuggled into the state’s jails.
Corrections Minister David Elliott said the smoking ban had reduced the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on hard-working staff.
“With smoking now banned in correctional centres, the value of tobacco to inmates is much greater,” Mr Elliott said.
“Corrective Services NSW is focused on detecting and intercepting all contraband in our prisons and takes a zero tolerance approach.
“The more contraband seized by staff means the less circulating among inmates.”
Security and intelligence assistant commissioner, Mark Wilson, warned visitors that tobacco was banned.
“The consequences are very strong and can result in the loss of visiting privileges for up to two years,” Mr Wilson said.
“The visitors are often devastated when this occurs as they have no history of trafficking. This penalises inmates as well as visitors.’’
