Women caught smuggling drugs in babies’ nappies into Mountjoy Prison

The scam was spotted a couple of times by sharp-eyed prison officers

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Women have been caught trying to smuggle drugs into Mountjoy Prison in their babies’ nappies.

The inmates were collecting the drug – mostly cannabis resin – when they lifted the child up to hug them during weekly visits. The scam was spotted a couple of times by sharp-eyed prison officers.

The drugs were removed and the women reported to the authorities including Tusla, the child protection agency.A prison source said: “We have open visits so prisoners are allowed to sit face to face beside their women and children. They are not behind a screen.“In one specific case it wasn’t even the woman’s baby but a child she borrowed to try and get the drugs in.”

The Irish Prison Service said it does not comment on prison security or the methods used to smuggle drugs into jails.

But it said preventing contraband including drugs getting into Irish jails is one of its highest priorities. It stated: “Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis.”

The IPS will be publishing a new drugs strategy shortly which contains a three-year plan to tackle substance abuse behind bars.