Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Ondo State have foiled an attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Akure. The drugs were reportedly hidden inside fresh tomatoes brought to the prison, a method authorities say shows the growing creativity of smugglers trying to beat security checks.
The discovery was made during a routine gate search carried out by correctional officers on duty at the Akure facility. According to officials, about four grams of Indian hemp were found carefully concealed inside the tomatoes, wrapped in water-tight nylon to avoid detection.
The Ondo State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday. The statement was signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Mr. Oyewole Akinwumi.
According to the statement, the drugs were meant to be delivered to an inmate currently in custody at the facility. The suspects involved in the smuggling attempt were immediately arrested at the prison gate.
“The substance was carefully wrapped in water-tight nylon with the intention of delivering it to an inmate in custody,” the statement said.
Following their arrest, the suspects were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution. The handover was done in line with the directive of the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr. Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche.
The NCoS said the swift action taken by officers on duty prevented the drugs from entering the custodial centre and causing possible harm to inmates and staff.
“In line with the directive of the Controller-General of Corrections on watertight security and custodial centre safeguarding, the suspects were immediately apprehended and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution,” the statement added.
The Controller of Corrections in Ondo State, Mr. Oyewole Charles (JP), commended the officers who uncovered the drugs. He praised their alertness, professionalism and commitment to duty, noting that such efforts are key to maintaining safety within correctional facilities.
He said the command remains fully committed to ensuring that prisons in the state are safe, secure and free from illegal activities, including drug trafficking.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to maintaining secure and humane custodial facilities, while ensuring that all forms of trafficking in illicit substances are decisively stamped out of the correctional system nationwide,” he said.
Prison authorities have long warned that drugs pose a serious threat to the safety and order of custodial centres. Illicit substances can lead to violence, health problems, unrest and the strengthening of criminal networks within prisons.
In recent years, the Nigerian Correctional Service has stepped up efforts to improve security across prisons nationwide. These efforts include stricter screening of visitors, use of intelligence gathering, collaboration with other security agencies and regular training of officers.
The Akure Medium Security Custodial Centre is one of the major prisons in Ondo State, housing inmates awaiting trial as well as convicted persons. Like many custodial centres across the country, it receives regular visits from families, lawyers and religious groups who bring food items and other approved materials.
However, authorities say some individuals take advantage of these visits to try to smuggle in prohibited items such as drugs, mobile phones and weapons. This has led to tighter controls on what can be brought into prisons.
The Ondo State Command of the NCoS used the opportunity to issue a strong warning to the public, especially visitors to custodial centres. The command said it will not tolerate any act that threatens the security and safety of correctional facilities.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service will not tolerate any action capable of compromising the security and safety of its facilities, whether from within or outside the custodial walls,” the statement warned.
The command also advised members of the public to cooperate with prison officials and follow all rules guiding visits to inmates. It stressed that anyone caught attempting to smuggle illegal items into prisons would face the full weight of the law.
The NDLEA, which is now handling the suspects, is expected to carry out a thorough investigation to determine how the drugs were sourced and whether the attempt was part of a larger network supplying drugs to inmates.
Law enforcement officials say collaboration between agencies like the NCoS and NDLEA is crucial in the fight against drug trafficking, both inside and outside correctional facilities.
The interception in Akure is not the first of its kind. Across Nigeria, prison authorities have recorded several attempts by smugglers to hide drugs in food items, clothing and personal belongings. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenge faced by security agencies in keeping prisons free from contraband.
Despite these challenges, the NCoS says it remains committed to reforming the correctional system, focusing on rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of inmates. Officials say this goal cannot be achieved if drugs and other illegal items are allowed into custodial centres.
As investigations continue, the Ondo State Command has reassured the public that it will continue to strengthen security measures and remain vigilant against any form of criminal activity.
The successful interception of the drugs at the Akure custodial centre, officials say, shows that routine searches and alert officers remain a strong line of defence against smuggling attempts.