Lockdown on Agassiz prison yields homemade weapons, three cellphones

AGASSIZ — Prison staff have seized a number of items after a five-day lockdown in Mountain Institution, a minimum-security facility.

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) stated that an exceptional search was conducted from August 7 to 12 at the Agassiz prison.

Officials discovered contraband and unauthorized items, including three cell phones and homemade weapons, during that time.

Operations have since resumed their normal operations, and visits are no longer suspended.

CSC added that it continues to strengthen measures to prevent the entry of contraband into its institutions.

In April this year, staff confiscated two packages on the perimeter of Mountain Institution – which were found to carry over $124,000 worth of items, including drugs, tobacco and tech devices.