Nearly $1 million worth of drugs and cell phones were confiscated at a maximum-security federal institution, on Aug. 19, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.
The federal agency issued a press release on Monday confirming the estimated value of the seized contraband and unauthorized items at Edmonton Institution was $917,400. The items included THC, crystal methamphetamine, and cell phones.
The Correctional Services of Canada said the confiscation was “a result of the vigilance of staff members.”
The agency responsible for jailing and rehabilitating criminal offenders sentenced to two years or more said that the police have been informed and that the institution is investigating.
“The Correctional Service of Canada uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug detector-dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates, and visitors,” reads the release.
Despite already having measures in place, the federal agency said they aim to improve measures to prevent contraband from entering institutions. The Correctional Service of Canada works closely with law enforcement to crack down on attempts to smuggle contraband into its facilities.
To strengthen security further, CSC has also implemented a toll-free tip line, 1-866-780-3784, where callers can remain anonymous. This line allows individuals to report information related to activities that could compromise the safety and security of the facilities, such as drug trafficking.
Situated near Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton Institution is a maximum-security federal prison that has experienced several notable incidents in recent years.
A previous report uncovered by the Edmonton Journal revealed that tensions between correctional officers and inmates had escalated due to severe staffing shortages, contributing to violent brawls in early 2022. The report highlighted a “strained” relationship between COs and inmates, exacerbated by operational adjustments that kept inmates confined to their cells for extended periods, fueling resentment and frustration.
Additionally, Edmonton Institution has witnessed other violent incidents, including the 2022 stabbing of inmate Nicholas Job at the penitentiary. He recovered and was later released, but was later shot and assaulted in his home. He subsequently died in the hospital. Two men were charged with second-degree murder in February 2024 after the Edmonton Police Service linked the stabbing at the institution to Job’s eventual demise.
The Edmonton Institution also had an inmate die under their custody in Nov. 2023.