Varces: former prison officer convicted of trafficking contraband in detention
A former officer at the Varces detention facility has been tried in Grenoble for bringing nearly ten kilograms of cannabis, mobile phones and various prohibited items into the prison for the benefit of inmates. He is said to have received approximately 10,000 euros in return.
Varces: former prison officer convicted of trafficking contraband in detention
The Grenoble district court has tried a former officer at the Varces detention facility for introducing illicit substances into the establishment. The defendant received a sentence of three years' imprisonment, two of which are suspended, according to Place Gre'net citing Le Dauphiné libéré.
The case dates back to 2022. The officer had just obtained his diploma from the National School of Prison Administration when he began supplying prohibited items to inmates. The investigation demonstrated that he had smuggled approximately ten kilograms of cannabis into the prison walls, around forty mobile phones, as well as cigarettes, hygiene products, foodstuffs, video game consoles and performance-enhancing substances.
The investigation was opened following an anonymous tip-off. Gendarmerie personnel then set up surveillance which allowed them to observe on several occasions exchanges of bags intended for incarcerated individuals. These goods were subsequently redistributed inside by imprisoned auxiliaries.
The young civil servant reportedly initially agreed to bring in a simple package of pasta before launching into much more extensive commerce. In total, he is said to have received approximately ten thousand euros in exchange for his services.
This case highlights the security vulnerabilities faced by detention facilities. The Varces detention centre is regularly criticised for its difficult living conditions: prison overcrowding at 179 per cent of capacity, mattresses placed on the ground, degraded sanitary installations and catering rated as insufficient.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)