A coordinated and intensive sweep operation conducted on Wednesday at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, uncovered 1,697 pieces of contraband, including over 100 mobile phones, hidden within inmate cells.
The June 18th operation, carried out as part of the facility’s twice-yearly security initiatives, involved a joint task force from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), Saint Lucia Fire and Emergency Services, and Bordelais Correctional Facility personnel.
“It’s an operation we are instructed to carry out annually,” said Stanius Charles, Acting Director in charge of operations at Bordelais. “The intent is to rid the facility of excess contraband and various unauthorized items that inmates manage to conceal. These sweeps are vital to restoring order and safety within the prison.”
Among the items confiscated were over 100 mobile and smart phones, lighters and cigarette materials, makeshift weapons, unauthorized clothing, and improvised cooking items and containers.
Charles revealed that one of the most persistent threats to security at the facility stems from external breaches.
“A lot of these unauthorized items are thrown over the prison perimeter fence. We have evidence that intruders approach the compound and toss these packages into the yard.”
To combat this growing concern, Bordelais has implemented new security measures. “We’ve cleared three feet of bush and obstruction around our outer perimeter to give our security officers a clear line of sight,” Charles said. “In addition, we’ve upgraded our surveillance systems to detect and deter unauthorized access.”
The director also addressed the re-emergence of a disturbing video circulating online, purportedly showing an inmate using a phone inside the facility, highl;ighting injuries another inmate sustained allegedly in transit from a court hearing.
“Yes, I’ve seen the video. It is not recent. It’s from several years ago and involves an incident that is still under investigation. There is no immediate threat or breach linked to that video today,” Charles clarified.
There has long expressed concerns over the flow of illegal items within the prison walls, and Wednesday’s operation has reignited questions about the vulnerability of the facility’s infrastructure.
However, Charles remains firm in the institution’s commitment to reform and accountability: “Contraband in prisons is not unique to Saint Lucia. What matters is our response. These operations, these seizures, they are proof that we are not turning a blind eye.”
