A prison warden was nabbed after allegedly trying to smuggle drugs, including flakka, into Pollsmoor Prison at the weekend.
Police say the warden was caught with dagga, mandrax tablets, tik, orange tablets believed to be flakka and four cellphones on Friday night.
Following a shake-down at the prison, he was arrested on Saturday morning.
A tip-off from members linked to the 28s gang inside the tronk led to the arrest of the official.
According to police sources, the warden had been smuggling in drugs for “quite some time” but had apparently become greedy.
Not only was he smuggling in items and drugs for gang members, but he allegedly started up his own business amongst the inmates by selling them similar items.
A police source says: “The drug donkie became greedy and the people making money off him did not like that he had ventured into his own little business.
“He was making money by making the same things available to prisoners, for a bit cheaper, and the 28s did not like that. So they staged a big delivery and piemped him.”
The source said this kind of offence “qualifies the warden for an immediate dismissal”.
Both the police and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) have launched investigations into the matter.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut confirms the incident.
“This office can confirm that a prison warden was arrested on (Saturday) at Pollsmoor Prison for possession of drugs,” says Traut.
Department of Correctional Services Western Cape Regional Commissioner Delekile Klaas says DCS condemns any wardens found guilty of this kind of crime, and called for the law to take its course in the matter.
“On 15 December at 10pm, a male correctional official based at Pollsmoor was randomly searched at Pollsmoor access control gate by correctional officials,” says Klaas.
“The official was found to be in possession of contraband. He was arrested and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court (yesterday). He was released on R5 000 bail.”