Lockdown underway at Fraser Valley prison, roughly 6 weeks after major contraband seizure

FRASER VALLEY – A lockdown has been implemented at a Fraser Valley prison to enable federal correctional staff to conduct an exceptional search.

According to a statement from Correctional Service Canada, a lockdown was put in place in the medium-security unit at Mission Institution on Tuesday, May 19.

CSC says the search was instituted to maintain the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates.

Visits have been suspended until the search is completed. Normal operations will resume once prison officials say it is considered safe to do so. 

Last month, vigilant correctional staff were credited with intercepting over $160,000 in drugs and contraband at Mission Institution. A package containing contraband and multiple unauthorized items was seized in the medium-security unit on Wednesday, April 8, thanks to the work of alert correctional personnel there. The contraband and unauthorized items seized consisted of 300 grams of suspected methamphetamine, one cell phone, various other pills, and razor blades. The total estimated institutional value of these seizures is $165,000.